Wednesday, May 11, 2016

Han Tak Lee: New York; Victim of a flawed arson investigation, he was exonerated after going to prison for 24 years for a crime for which he was wrongfully convicted: killing his daughter in the arson of a house. Assemblyman Ron Kim (D-Flushing) is working to prevent other people from suffering from the same predicament. " Aiming to end the use of outdated investigative theories, Kim’s legislation aims to require all arson investigators in the state to be certified with the most recent National Fire Protection Association 921 guidelines."..."With a Kim staffer interpreting his Korean, Lee told his story. His daughter was killed in a fire during a religious retreat in Pennsylvania’s Pocono Mountains in 1989. Lee, who took the trip with her, appeared unemotional when he spoke to investigators — a common public reaction to tragic events in Asian cultures. This fact, the cultural dimension of which is not understood by many Americans, was cited by the district attorney as evidence for the case. “It wasn’t based on any evidence of scientific proof that the fire was set by Mr. Lee,” Kim said." Queen's Chronicle;


STORY: " Kim honors Han Tak Lee with legislation," by Associate Editor Ryan Brady, published by the Queen's Chronicle on May 5, 2016.

SUB-HEADING:  "Pol to introduce legislation to prevent wrongful convictions in arson cases."

PHOTO CAPTION:  "Han Tak Lee, left, joined Assemblyman Ron Kim and Asian Americans for Equality chief Chris Kui to announce a new bill to prevent false arson convictions. In 2014, Lee was exonerated after living 24 years in several prisons because of a wrongful arson-murder conviction."

GIST: "Flushing resident Han Tak Lee was exonerated after going to prison for 24 years for a crime for which he was wrongfully convicted: killing his daughter in the arson of a house. And Assemblyman Ron Kim (D-Flushing) is working to prevent other people from suffering from the same predicament. “We want to make sure that this type of wrongful conviction is not in New York,” Kim said during a press conference at his district office last Thursday, where he was joined by Lee and Asian Americans for Equality Executive Director Chris Kui. After the U.S. 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals allowed Lee’s request for a review of the prosecutors’ convicting evidence four years ago, the magistrate judge that led the review found that the theories used to convict him were based on “little more than superstition.” In 2014, he was exonerated. Aiming to end the use of outdated investigative theories, Kim’s legislation aims to require all arson investigators in the state to be certified with the most recent National Fire Protection Association 921 guidelines. Lee, who is 82 years old and emigrated from South Korea, has not received compensation from the State of Pennsylvania, despite having been incarcerated there on a false basis for a quarter of a century because of the state’s no-fault policy..........With a Kim staffer interpreting his Korean, Lee told his story. His daughter was killed in a fire during a religious retreat in Pennsylvania’s Pocono Mountains in 1989. Lee, who took the trip with her, appeared unemotional when he spoke to investigators — a common public reaction to tragic events in Asian cultures. This fact, the cultural dimension of which is not understood by many Americans, was cited by the district attorney as evidence for the case. “It wasn’t based on any evidence of scientific proof that the fire was set by Mr. Lee,” Kim said. The bill, which Kim aims to pass before the current legislative session ends, has not yet been introduced in Albany."

The entire story can be found at:

http://www.qchron.com/editions/north/kim-honors-han-tak-lee-with-legislation/article_ddc61e5b-e920-5ac7-a1e9-18955a35763f.html

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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

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Harold Levy;


Publisher: The Charles Smith Blog;