Smith And The Media: Part Five: Taking On Charles Smith: A Second Example Of Fearless Journalism;

"A FIVE-PAGE FEATURE ARTICLE IN MACLEANS ON MAY 14, 2001, RAISED SERIOUS QUESTIONS ABOUT THE INVOLVEMENT OF DR. CHARLES RANDAL SMITH, THE GOVERNMENT'S CHIEF PATHOLOGIST, IN THE INVESTIGATION OF THE DEATH OF THIS LITTLE GIRL AND OTHER MURDER CASES IN WHICH HE WAS INVOLVED IN HIS PROFESSIONAL CAPACITY."

LIBERAL MPP JOHN GERRITSEN (KINGSTON AND THE ISLANDS);

Jane O'Hara is one of the few print reporters to rise above the pack and tackle Dr. Charles Smith head on.

O'Hara is the author of, "Dead Wrong: How the faulty findings of an eminent pathologist let to erroneous murder charges and ruined lives," published in Macleans Magazine on May 14, 2001;

Her article, which resulted in a libel suit by Smith which he later dropped, can be found at http://injusticebusters.com/05/Smith_Charles.shtml.

O'Hara's revealing article, which focused on Smith's role in the wrongful prosecution of Louise Reynolds, was raised in the Ontario Legislature, by Liberal MPP John Gerretsen,(Kingston and the Islands), on June 27, 2001;

"On June 12, 1997, a young girl by the name of Sharon Reynolds was found dead in the basement of her house in Kingston," Gerretsen told the legislature.

"Her mother, Louise Reynolds, was subsequently charged with the murder of her seven-year-old daughter," Gerretsen continued.

"On January 25 of this year, less than two months before the trial was scheduled to start, the crown attorney, on what I understand were instructions from the Attorney General's office, withdrew the murder charge.

A five-page feature article in Maclean's on May 14, 2001, raised serious questions about the involvement of Dr Charles Randall Smith, the government's chief pathologist, in the investigation of the death of this little girl and other murder cases in which he was involved in his professional capacity.

In a series of seven feature articles carried in the Whig-Standard this past week, investigative reporters Arthur Milnes and Rob Tripp also raise serious issues and concerns about the facts surrounding her death.

Letters to the editors and petitions signed by hundreds of people are demanding a full and open inquiry. Both the chief of police for Kingston, Bill Closs, and I have repeatedly requested that the Premier and the Attorney General authorize a full and impartial inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the death of Sharon Reynolds.

Last week I was informed by the Attorney General that a public inquiry would not be authorized by him because of a pending court action initiated by her mother, who has been in custody for over three years.

How can a civil court action that may never come to court interfere with a full, impartial and open inquiry for this little girl lost?

I plead with the Premier and the Attorney General that pursuant to section 2 of the Public Inquiries Act, you authorize a full and independent inquiry into the death of Sharon Reynolds so that we can truly find out what happened in this horrific death.

The people of Ontario and the life and memory of this seven-year-old girl demand nothing less."

Although the Harris Government did not do justice to the people of Ontario and the life and memory of seven-year-old Sharon Reynolds, reporter Jane O'Hara and Macleans Magazine (and MPP Gerretsen) certainly did.

See other postings in the "Smith and the Media" Series:

Part Four: Fifth Estate probe triggers plea to Premier Mike Harris for Inquiry into Smith cases;

Part Three: Smith of the North;

Part Two: Smith goes to India;

Part One: Why the media share some of the blame;

Harold Levy;