"Newman said the documentary has some information that people haven't seen before, including the police interview with Waudby and documents stating that investigators had more leads in the case but didn't pursue them.
It also puts the Waudby's 15-year ordeal into context, outlining her story from suspicion to exoneration."
REPORTER SARAH DEETH: PETERBOROUGH EXAMINER;
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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. She deserves to be completely exonerated without further delay.
HAROLD LEVY; PUBLISHER; THE CHARLES SMITH BLOG.
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"Former Global National News anchor Kevin Newman stopped in Peterborough Tuesday afternoon, to talk with local reporters about his documentary featuring Peterborough's Brenda Waudby," the Peterborough Examiner story by reporter Sarah Deeth published earlier today under the heading, "Former Global TV anchor produces documentary about Waudby," begins.
"Titled, A Mother's Ordeal, the documentary examines the police investigation into 21-month-old Jenna Mellor's death and the role of the media and public perception after Waudby was charged," the story continues.
"At issue, he said, is what happens to someone when people rush to snap judgments and don't ask important questions.
Jenna died in 1997.
Dr. Charles Smith, a forensic child pathologist, wrongly pinpointed Jenna's death to a time when she was in Waudby's care.
Waudby had a history of drug involvement, and Newman said that made it a little easier for people to think the worst of the situation.
He said there's still some lingering doubt about Waudby's innocence in the community.
Waudby is a complex person, he said, and is still angry about what happened to her.
"She wants her life wiped clear of all suspicion," he said. "And it's a tall order."
Waudby is currently fighting in court to appeal a 1999 conviction for child abuse, a charge she said she was pushed into pleading to at the behest of the Crown, police and Children's Aid Society.
He said the justice system can admit it was wrong, Smith can be held accountable and the province can acknowledge that mistakes were made.
"But no one has ever apologized," he said.
Newman said the documentary has some information that people haven't seen before, including the police interview with Waudby and documents stating that investigators had more leads in the case but didn't pursue them.
It also puts the Waudby's 15-year ordeal into context, outlining her story from suspicion to exoneration.
The documentary airs May 6, at 10 p.m., on Global Television.
NOTE: A Mother's Ordeal is one of two documentaries on wrongly accused persons. The second, Execution Under Fire, examines a Texas father's 13-year battle to clear his name following a fatal fire that killed his three daughters. He was charged with murder by arson, and eventually executed by the state. Leading scientists have since challenged the investigation, and concluded that the fire may have been accidental. That documentary airs May 13 at 10 p.m. on Global."
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The story can be found at:
http://www.thepeterboroughexaminer.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=3071526
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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;
