"A fire science expert Tuesday reiterated his opinion that the 1995 fire that killed a Naperville
woman was accidental, setting the stage for two additional experts
expected to testify this week in the murder trial of the woman’s former
son-in-law, William Amor. Douglas Carpenter, an engineer and
combustion science specialist, concluded his second day of testimony as a
witness for the defense in the DuPage County trial of Amor, 62, who is
accused of the arson killing of Marianne Miceli. Amor was found
guilty of the crime in 1997, but his conviction was vacated last year,
in part due to Carpenter’s testimony at hearing in 2016 that the fatal
fire that killed Miceli was accidental and likely caused by a cigarette
left in a living room reclining chair. Carpenter testified Monday
and gave the same conclusion — that the fire was accidental. He said
that was the most scientifically reliable explanation for the Sept. 10,
1995, blaze at the Bailey Road condo where Miceli, 40, lived with her
daughter, Tina, and Amor, who had married Tina earlier in 1995.According
to previous testimony Tina and Amor had left the condo to go to a
movie. About 20 minutes later, Marianne called 911 to report the fire
and was overcome by smoke as she spoke to the operator. During his
testimony Monday and Tuesday, Carpenter said that had the fire been set
with an open flame, it would have taken about two minutes to create the
smoke and fire conditions Miceli reported on her 911 call.
Details of the Miceli fire indicate it was started by a cigarette smoldering in a recliner that eventually burst into flames and trapped Miceli, Carpenter testified. All three residents were smokers, according to testimony. About three weeks after the fire, Amor confessed to setting it with a lit cigarette and vodka-soaked newspaper, which has since been acknowledged as an impossible method for starting a fire. His defense team from the Illinois Innocence Project says Amor was coerced into confessing during an interrogation session where police served Amor with divorce papers filed by his wife. Prosecutors say Amor’s confession was made willingly, and he hoped to collect insurance money from the fire. The trial will continue Wednesday with another defense fire expert slated to testify. The trial, a bench proceeding before Judge Liam Brennan, is expected to conclude Friday."
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/naperville-sun/news/ct-met-naperville-amor-arson-trial-20180130-story.html
PUBLISHER'S NOTE: I am monitoring this case/issue. 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/c
Details of the Miceli fire indicate it was started by a cigarette smoldering in a recliner that eventually burst into flames and trapped Miceli, Carpenter testified. All three residents were smokers, according to testimony. About three weeks after the fire, Amor confessed to setting it with a lit cigarette and vodka-soaked newspaper, which has since been acknowledged as an impossible method for starting a fire. His defense team from the Illinois Innocence Project says Amor was coerced into confessing during an interrogation session where police served Amor with divorce papers filed by his wife. Prosecutors say Amor’s confession was made willingly, and he hoped to collect insurance money from the fire. The trial will continue Wednesday with another defense fire expert slated to testify. The trial, a bench proceeding before Judge Liam Brennan, is expected to conclude Friday."
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/naperville-sun/news/ct-met-naperville-amor-arson-trial-20180130-story.html
PUBLISHER'S NOTE: I am monitoring this case/issue. 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/c
