Wednesday, May 1, 2013

Willie Manning: Two groups that help exonerate inmates using DNA evidence want to fiie briefs on his behalf with the Mississippi Supreme Court. Associated Press.


STORY: "Groups support Manning's efforts to stop execution," by reporter Jack Elliot Jr., published by the San Francisco Chronicle on April 30, 2013.

GIST: "Two organizations that help exonerate inmates using DNA evidence have asked the state Supreme Court to let them file briefs to support Willie Jerome Manning's effort to avoid execution on May 7. Attorneys for Manning asked the court Tuesday to stop the execution. They also said they will file a clemency petition with Gov. Phil Bryant. Manning was handed two death sentences for the slayings of Mississippi State University students Jon Steckler and Tiffany Miller, whose bodies were discovered in rural Oktibbeha County on Dec. 11, 1992. Each was shot to death, and Miller's car was missing. The vehicle was found the next morning. Prosecutors said Manning was arrested after he tried to sell some items belonging to the victims. On Friday, Manning, now 44, asked the Supreme Court to reconsider its 5-4 denial of DNA testing that he argues will prove he is innocent. The Supreme Court has not yet ruled on the motions. In their motion, the Mississippi Innocence Project and Innocence Project New Orleans said Manning's appeal is "exactly the kind of case where DNA testing could prove innocence or guilt." "Just because it's hard to imagine a scenario where DNA testing could exonerate Willie Manning, doesn't mean there isn't one," the groups wrote. Last week, the Supreme Court ruled 5-4 against Manning's request for DNA testing. The majority said there was substantial evidence to convict Manning."
The entire story can be found at:

 http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Groups-support-Manning-s-efforts-to-stop-execution-4476082.php

 PUBLISHER'S NOTE:

I have added a search box for content in this blog which now encompasses several thousand posts. The search box is located  near the bottom of the screen just above the list of links. I am confident that this powerful search tool provided by "Blogger" will help our readers and myself get more out of the site. 

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.