"It is a recurring theme of the defendant's relationships with many of his victims that he would befriend them and gain the trust of families before inviting them to his home so that he could sexually abuse them without fear of detection," Mr Flewitt said.
He groomed the girls by treating them with money or presents but would use violence or threat of harm if they resisted his advances.
Several of them came into contact with him at a church which the deeply religious Morrison, of Martin Street, attended.
THE HERALD: SCOTLAND;
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PUBLISHER'S NOTE: Gene Morrison and Charles Smith had many things in common - but one stands out. They both managed to bamboozle people in their respective justice systems, including judges, prosecutors, police and even defence lawyers, into believing that they were genuine forensic experts. Morrison purported to be a forensic expert in the areas of handwriting, drugs, lie detection, toxicology, facial mapping and forensic dentistry, who had earned his qualifications through who a BSc in forensic psychology, an MSc in forensic investigation, and a PhD in criminology which he purchased from Rochville University, an online website offering 'life experience degrees'. Smith misrepresented himself as a qualified forensic pathologist (while staring down those who dared to disagree with him) even though he had no professional qualifications in the area, no specialized training to speak of as a forensic pathologist, and had never been trained or mentored by a genuine forensic pathologist. He would later admit to the independent Goudge inquiry into many of his cases that his knowledge of forensic pathology was "woefully inadequate," that his training was "minimal," that he was basically ''self-taught, and that he was "profoundly ignorant" of the role of expert witnesses and the way in which the criminal justice system works. (Not true. He wrote impressive articles on the role of experts, and lectured to homicide officers on issues involving the criminal justice system); In spite of his admission of being "woefully inadequate" and "self-taught," Smith's evidence from the witness box brimmed with confidence, certainty, experience, and a sense of deep knowledge of his field. One major difference: Morrison was prosecuted, convicted and sentenced to prison for five years for his fraud upon the justice system; Charles Smith remains untouched. I am publishing this series of posts on Gene Morrison without editorial comment (not an easy task) so that our readers can make up their own minds about whether Smith should be prosecuted. I will publish my personal views at the end of the series.
HAROLD LEVY: PUBLISHER; THE CHARLES SMITH BLOG;
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"A bogus forensic scientist who conned his way into hundreds of trials has been convicted of a catalogue of serious sexual offences," the Herald story published on October 15, 2009 begins, under the heading, "Bogus forensic scientist who conned his way into rape trials was sexual predator."
"Sexual predator Gene Morrison, 51, targeted vulnerable young girls to satisfy his perverted fantasies, including the rapes of two girls aged 10 and 11," the story continues.
"His four victims came forward after his five-year jail sentence in February 2007 for posing in courtrooms as an expert investigator.
Morrison tricked judges, barristers, solicitors and police into believing he was qualified in forensics when he left school with no qualifications and downloaded sham degrees from a fictitious US university.
The judge who jailed him in 2007 branded Morrison an "inveterate and compulsive liar".
A jury deliberating over the sexual allegations against Morrison, better known as Rocky in his home town of Hyde, Greater Manchester, was not told of his past as a fake expert witness which can now be reported for the first time after restrictions were lifted.
The defendant pleaded not guilty to 33 charges - covering a 30-year-period - which the jury deliberated at his trial at Minishull Street Crown Court in Manchester
He maintained that when he accepted sexual relations took place with an adult it was consensual and that in other cases the girls were not telling the truth.
Morrison was convicted of three counts of child rape, six counts of indecent assault, four counts of engaging in sexual activity with a child and one count of perverting the course of justice. All the victims were aged under 16 at the time.
Morrison also faced sexual allegations involving six other women but was either cleared of the offences or the jury could not reach verdicts.
The Crown Prosecution Service today decided not to press for a retrial on any of the allegations which the jury could not decide upon, and reporting restrictions were lifted.
Prosecutor Neil Flewitt QC told the jury the defendant was a "sexual predator with a particular interest in young girls".
Morrison was a superficially charming and charismatic man who infiltrated the lives of children for the specific purpose of satisfying his own warped sexual desires, he continued.
"It is a recurring theme of the defendant's relationships with many of his victims that he would befriend them and gain the trust of families before inviting them to his home so that he could sexually abuse them without fear of detection," Mr Flewitt said.
He groomed the girls by treating them with money or presents but would use violence or threat of harm if they resisted his advances.
Several of them came into contact with him at a church which the deeply religious Morrison, of Martin Street, attended.
The jury was told of claims the defendant would slap one schoolgirl over her buttocks with a belt if she made any mistake when forced to read out lengthy passages from the bible.
He has two previous convictions for assaulting women - one he punched and the other was slapped across the face.
In cross-examination, Morrison conceded he had "struck out" against women but did not class it as violence.
Mr Flewitt accused him of being "hypocritical" as far as his religious beliefs were concerned.
Morrison agreed his religion was the "guiding light in his life" and that he tried to "copy the example of Jesus Christ", although he admitted "drifting away from the path sometimes".
Once-married Morrison also conceded he had firm views that Christian men engaging in sex outside marriage was wrong.
Morrison said: "We all have weaknesses. It is a matter of how you progress from that." Mr Flewitt replied: "You move on from one young girl to another, that is what you do.
"Your sex drive was the driving force in your life as well as your Christianity."
He will be sentenced next month."
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THE STORY CAN BE FOUND AT:
http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/crime-courts/bogus-forensic-scientist-who-conned-his-way-into-rape-trials-was-sexual-predator-1.926410
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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;
