UP-DATE: MISSISSIPPI'S MEDICAL EXAMINER SYSTEM; DR. STEVEN HAYNE PROVES TO BE A HARD ACT TO FOLLOW! MEDICAL EXAMINERS PROVIDED BY PRIVATE COMPANY;

"HAYNE WAS REMOVED FROM THE DESIGNATED LIST OF PATHOLOGISTS AFTER THE NEW YORK-BASED INNOCENCE PROJECT HAD ACCUSED HIM OF SLOPPY WORK AND HAD FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE STATE BOARD OF MEDICAL LICENSURE, CALLING ON THE BOARD TO STRIP HIM OF HIS MEDICAL LICENSE.

AFTER EXAMINING THE ALLEGATIONS, THE BOARD OF MEDICAL LICENSURE SIDED WITH HAYNE. HAYNE IS NOW SUING INNOCENCE PROJECT OFFICIALS FOR DEFAMATION.

HAYNE ALSO IS BEING SUED, ALONG WITH HATTIESBURG DENTIST MICHAEL WEST, FOR THEIR TESTIMONY ABOUT THE 1992 RAPE AND SLAYING OF A 3-YEAR-OLD GIRL THAT LED TO THE DEATH SENTENCE FOR KENNEDY BREWER.

BREWER IS SUING THE PAIR FOR $18 MILLION. HE WAS FREED AFTER SPENDING 15 YEARS IN PRISON FOR A CRIME AUTHORITIES NOW SAY DNA SHOWS HE DID NOT COMMIT. ANOTHER MAN HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH THAT CRIME."

REPORTER JIMMIE E. GATES; THE CLARION LEDGER;

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As the following story by Clarion Ledger report Jimmie E. Gates tells us the State of Mississippi still has not repaired its seriously flawed medical examiner system;

"Efforts to hire the state's first medical examiner since the mid-1990s could be scaled back for some time," Gate's story, published today under the heading: "Finding a state medical examiner continues to drag on," begins;

""We have not found a suitable candidate," state Public Safety Commissioner Steve Simpson said last week. "We will continue to search," the story continues;

"A medical examiner is a key leadership position in death investigations. Mississippi has been criticized for years for not filling the position in the Department of Public Safety as well as not adequately funding it.

Simpson, who completed his first year as commissioner last week, said the reason for the delay in hiring probably is because of two factors:

The lack of available, board-certified forensic pathologists; and

Most forensic pathologists are performing other duties and, therefore, are paid more than the $250,000 annual salary the state is offering.

"We may look at raising the salary," Simpson said.

The state's last medical examiner, Emily Ward, left in 1995 and the position has been vacant since.

Last year, state lawmakers allocated $500,000 in one-time money toward the office.

Lawmakers have said they'll continue to support the office, but funds will be harder to come by during this recession.

Simpson said the delay in hiring will allow the state time to get a permanent salary in place.

In the meantime, the state will advertise for proposals from companies to perform autopsies.

For years, many counties had relied on Dr. Steve Hayne to do autopsies. But in August, Simpson removed Hayne from a list of approved pathologists.

The state has contracted with Forensic Medical Inc. of Nashville to conduct autopsies here. The company is paid $1,000 per autopsy.

Simpson said he has heard of no complaints from coroners about the company.

Jefferson Davis County Coroner Greg Blackwell said the company has worked well for his county.

Hayne was removed from the designated list of pathologists after the New York-based Innocence Project had accused him of sloppy work and had filed a complaint with the state Board of Medical Licensure, calling on the board to strip him of his medical license.

After examining the allegations, the Board of Medical Licensure sided with Hayne. Hayne is now suing Innocence Project officials for defamation.

Hayne also is being sued, along with Hattiesburg dentist Michael West, for their testimony about the 1992 rape and slaying of a 3-year-old girl that led to the death sentence for Kennedy Brewer.

Brewer is suing the pair for $18 million. He was freed after spending 15 years in prison for a crime authorities now say DNA shows he did not commit. Another man has been charged with that crime.

Simpson said he is certain the Nashville company will be one of the bidders to provide the services during the next fiscal year that begins July 1.

The company could not be reached for comment last week. The company rotates a pathologist every week to perform autopsies in Mississippi. The pathologist works out of the medical examiner's office at the state Crime Lab."

Harold Levy...hlevy15@gmail.com;