Wednesday, January 29, 2014

Bulletin; Jennifer Del Prete; Her lawyers are studying several options in light of the recent federal judge's ruling that "no reasonable jury" would find her guilty - including a motion in federal court based on allegations that prosecutors withheld evidence favourable to her - a 10-year-old letter written by the forensic pathologist who conducted the infant's autopsy; The Medill Justice Project;


POST: "Attorneys for daycare worker ask for more time in Federal Court: Del Prete hearing set next week in shaken baby syndrome case," by Lauryn Schroeder, published by the Medill Justice Project on January 27, 2014.

PHOTO CAPTION:  "Accused of violently shaking a 3 ½-month-old infant Dec. 27, 2002, Jennifer Del Prete was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to 20 years in prison in 2005. U.S. District Court Judge Matthew F. Kennelly ruled Monday that no reasonable jury would find Del Prete guilty beyond a reasonable doubt."

GIST: "Attorneys representing Jennifer Del Prete, a daycare worker convicted of murder, appeared in federal court today in Chicago seeking more time to decide what action they will take in the wake of the judge’s ruling that “no reasonable jury” would find her guilty. Among the options available, Patrick W. Blegen, Del Prete’s lead attorney, said in an interview the prisoner could file a federal Brady violation claim, accusing the prosecutors of withholding evidence favorable to Del Prete. The claim stems from a 10-year-old police detective letter discovered by The Medill Justice Project that raises questions about Del Prete’s guilt. In the 2003 letter, Police Commander Kenneth Kroll said the forensic pathologist who conducted the infant’s autopsy questioned whether the day care worker had violently shaken the child in what is known as shaken-baby syndrome or abusive head trauma. Defense attorneys learned of the letter when it was published as part of a Medill Justice Project investigation. Judge Matthew F. Kennelly’s ruling Monday is a significant step for Del Prete, 43, who was accused of violently shaking a 3 ½-month-old infant on Dec. 27, 2002. She was sentenced to 20 years in prison in 2005. The judge’s detailed and strongly worded 97-page opinion not only challenged Del Prete’s conviction but also raised significant questions about the foundation of shaken-baby syndrome convictions."

The entire post can be found at:

http://www.medilljusticeproject.org/2014/01/29/attorneys-for-daycare-worker-ask-for-more-time-in-federal-court/

PUBLISHER'S NOTE:

Dear Reader. Keep your eye on the Charles Smith Blog. We are following this case.

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.ca/2013/12/the-charles-smith-award-presented-to_28.html
 
I look forward to hearing from readers at:

hlevy15@gmail.com