"Defence lawyer Donald Bayne is attempting to prove that the French handwriting evidence is "manifestly unreliable," which is the only legal avenue open to a Canadian citizen being sought by another country.
Under Canada's extradition law, evidence provided by a foreign nation seeking the extradition of a Canadian must be presumed reliable.Crown goes after critic of writing expert."
REPORTER CHRIS COBB: THE OTTAWA CITIZEN;
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"The debate over whether crucial French handwriting evidence in the Hassan Diab extradition hearing is the work of an incompetent or a skilled analyst working largely according to French guidelines took centre stage again Wednesday," the Ottawa Citizen story by reporter Chris Cobb published earlier today under the heading, "Crown goes after critic of writing expert: Prosecutor at Diab extradition hearing targets man's lack of French credentials," begins.
"In his cross-examination of forensic handwriting expert Robert Radley, Crown prosecutor Claude LeFrancois attacked the Englishman's lack of French credentials and experience, suggesting it undermined his ability to accurately assess the French expert's methodology," the story continues.
"In a blistering attack Tuesday, Radley described the work of French handwriting analyst Ann Bisotti as "frankly absurd -- totally misguided and totally incorrect."
He is the third defence handwriting expert to produce damning reports of Bisotti's work.
Radley agreed that he had no direct knowledge of French analysis, but said forensic analysts in most European countries, including France, worked by similar standards and procedures.
"I have no reason to believe that France is significantly different," he said.
"But you have no reason not to believe it, do you?" LeFrancois responded.
Radley admitted he wasn't an "officially recognized" expert by French courts, but said he was "troubled" by Bisotti's resume, which showed she had only 21 hours of training in expert analysis.
"To have a black-and-white difference of opinion with another properly trained (forensic handwriting) expert is almost unheard of," Radley said.
The French are accusing the Lebanon-born Diab of planting a bomb outside a Paris synagogue 30 years ago. They want him to stand trial for murder and attempted murder in Paris.
Diab says he is a victim of mistaken identity.
Bisotti compared the writing of a false name on a Paris hotel registration card to Diab's handwriting on photocopied U.S. immigration papers from about 15 years later.
Radley also criticized her use of copies as opposed to originals.
"It's a cardinal sin," he said. LeFrancois said Bisotti had
had no choice because U.S. officials gave her little time and little option but to work with copies.
The handwriting evidence -- termed "the smoking gun" by the prosecution -- is key to the two-year-old extradition case.
Ontario Superior Court Justice Robert Maranger allowed Bayne to call the three experts as witnesses after more than a week of arguments during which LeFrancois and colleague Jeffrey Johnston fought to keep them from appearing."
The story can be found at:
http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/Crown+goes+after+critic+writing+expert/4067095/story.html
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:
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://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=120008354894645705&postID=8369513443994476774
Harold Levy: Publisher; The Charles Smith Blog; hlevy15@gmail.com;
