Thursday, June 14, 2012

Bulletin: Leighton Hay: Ontario: Hair holds key in bid to quash murder conviction. Reporter Peter Edwards. The Toronto Star.


STORY: "Hair holds key in bid to quash murder conviction," by reporter Peter Edwards, published in the Toronto Star on June 12, 2012.

GIST: 'Canada’s top court is expected to rule soon on whether a few strands of hair are enough to reopen one of Greater Toronto’s most notorious murder cases in the past decade. Lawyers for convicted killer Leighton Hay argue that recent forensic testing on hairs found in Hay’s apartment prove he’s innocent of the July 2002 execution-style murder of Colin Moore, 51, a beloved member of the local Guyanese community. “The fresh evidence has changed the case for and against the Applicant dramatically,” argues a Supreme Court application for leave to appeal the verdict by Hay’s lawyers, James Lockyer, Philip Campbell and Joanne McLean. “If the haircut occurred, the Applicant is likely guilty. If it did not, he is surely innocent. A verdict which did not consider the fresh evidence is unreliable and should not be upheld.” Hay is serving a life term for first-degree murder and has been in prison for the past decade. The Crown has opposed the application, saying its case remains strong, despite the forensic testing."

The entire story can be found at:

http://www.thestar.com/news/crime/article/1210142--hair-holds-key-in-bid-to-quash-murder-conviction

PUBLISHER'S NOTE:

I am monitoring this case. Keep your eye on the Charles Smith Blog for reports on developments.

The Toronto Star, my previous employer for more than twenty incredible years, has put considerable effort into exposing the harm caused by Dr. Charles Smith and his protectors - and into pushing for reform of Ontario's forensic pediatric pathology system. The Star has a "topic" section which focuses on recent stories related to Dr. Charles Smith. It can be found at:

http://www.thestar.com/topic/charlessmith

Information on "The Charles Smith Blog Award"- and its nomination process - can be found at:

http://smithforensic.blogspot.com/2011/05/charles-smith-blog-award-nominations.html

Please send any comments or information on other cases and issues of interest to the readers of this blog to: hlevy15@gmail.com

Harold Levy: Publisher; The Charles Smith Blog.