"Waudby has been fighting to clear her name for more than 12 years. She was falsely accused and charged with murdering her daughter Jenna Mellor in 1997.
The charge, which was later withdrawn, was laid based on the erroneous findings of the now-disgraced pathologist Dr. Charles Smith.
In a sworn affidavit filed with the Superior Court of Justice, Waudby alleges she was bullied by the Crown attorney, police and the Kawartha-Haliburton Children's Aid Society into falsely confessing to abusing Jenna."
REPORTER FIONA ISAACSON; PETERBOROUGH THIS WEEK;
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PUBLISHER'S NOTE: It is clear from the evidence called at the Goudge inquiry that Brenda Waudby - an utterly innocent individual who's baby daughter had been murdered by her babysitter - had been required to plead guilty to a charge of child abuse under provincial legislation before the Crown would withdraw the the second-degree murder charge on the basis of medical opinions which showed she could not possibly have committed the crime. It is also clear that Dr. Charles Smith's opinion that there were injuries which preceded the attack on Baby Jenna - which led to her being wrongfully charged with murder - was also the basis for the provincial charge, along with what the police claimed to be a confession. Instead of receiving the sympathy and compassion she deserved as a grieving mother whose baby daughter had been murdered, Ms. Waudby, a grieving mother, was herself charged with the horrific crime and not surprisingly became a pariah in her community. Brenda Waudby has been given a raw deal by Ontario's criminal justice system. It has taken far too long for her to totally clear her name.
HAROLD LEVY; PUBLISHER; THE CHARLES SMITH BLOG.
(Julian Sher's documentary on Brenda Waudby - "A Mother's Ordeal" - will be aired on Global TV. 10PM (9PM Manitoba/Sask.)
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"Brenda Waudby's day in court to appeal her 1999 child abuse conviction won't be set until Aug. 29," the Peterborough This Week story by reporter Fiona Isaacson published on April 7, 2011 under the heading, "Waudby's appeal date to be set in August," begins.
"It was expected the date would be set Thursday in superior court, where the appeal will be heard," the story begins.
"Waudby was convicted on June 11, 1999 after pleading guilty to child abuse under the Provincial Offences Act. Under the act, an appeal has to filed within 30 days.
However, last December the Crown opened the door for the appeal to go ahead.
The Crown said it was in the "interest of justice" to allow the appeal.
Waudby and her lawyer were not court Thursday.
Waudby has been fighting to clear her name for more than 12 years. She was falsely accused and charged with murdering her daughter Jenna Mellor in 1997.
The charge, which was later withdrawn, was laid based on the erroneous findings of the now-disgraced pathologist Dr. Charles Smith.
In a sworn affidavit filed with the Superior Court of Justice, Waudby alleges she was bullied by the Crown attorney, police and the Kawartha-Haliburton Children's Aid Society into falsely confessing to abusing Jenna."
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The story can be found at:
http://www.thepeterboroughexaminer.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=3064488
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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;
