"An organization that used DNA evidence to free a Tampa man after 35 years in prison is working to exonerate a Palmetto man they say was wrongfully convicted of rape.
The Innocence Project of Florida will hold a news conference this morning at the Manatee County Courthouse in Bradenton to announce that DNA test results prove Derrick Williams did not rape a woman in 1992.
Authorities say the woman was kidnapped when she arrived home from work. The attacker forced her back into her car and drove to an orange grove, where she was raped in the back seat."
TAMPA BAY ON=LINE;
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"An organization that used DNA evidence to free a Tampa man after 35 years in prison is working to exonerate a Palmetto man they say was wrongfully convicted of rape," the story published earlier today on Tampa Bay On-Line begins, under the heading, "Group says DNA proves Palmetto man didn't rape woman in 1992."
"The Innocence Project of Florida will hold a news conference this morning at the Manatee County Courthouse in Bradenton to announce that DNA test results prove Derrick Williams did not rape a woman in 1992," the story continues.
"Authorities say the woman was kidnapped when she arrived home from work. The attacker forced her back into her car and drove to an orange grove, where she was raped in the back seat.
The man had removed a T-shirt he was wearing and told the woman to cover her face with it. After the attack, the man got out of the car to open the trunk.
The woman got in the driver's seat and drove away. The man's shirt, which became a key piece of evidence in the case, was still in the car.
A court-ordered test this year shows that skin cells and sweat on the inside collar of a shirt worn by the attacker does not match Williams' DNA. The technology was not available during Williams' trial in 1993.
"After 17 years in prison for a crime he didn't commit, the state should do the right thing and release this innocent man immediately," said Melissa Montle, an attorney for the Innocence Project.
Montle said during the investigation, the victim's description of her attacker was inconsistent, as was her account of how well she could see him. During the trial, the jury was unconvinced by six defense witnesses who said Williams was at a family barbecue when the rape occurred.
Jamie Bain, who was freed from prison after the Innocence Project took on his case, will be at the news conference to show his support for Williams, said Seth Miller, an attorney for the Tallahassee-based nonprofit.
Bain, who lives in Tampa, was freed Dec. 17. Results showed his DNA did not match a sample found on the underwear of a 9-year-old rape victim.
Bain's wrongful imprisonment is the longest time served by any of the 255 people in the country exonerated by DNA evidence."
http://www2.tbo.com/content/2010/jul/27/group-says-dna-proves-palmetto-man-didnt-rape-woma/
PUBLISHER'S NOTE: 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 accessed at:
The story can be found at:
http://www.thestar.com/topic/charlessmith
For a breakdown of some of the cases, issues and controversies this Blog is currently following, please turn to:
http://smithforensic.blogspot.com/2010/07/new-feature-cases-issues-and.html
Harold Levy: Publisher; The Charles Smith Blog;
Is The Age of Progressive Prosecutors Over?
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