"Currently (11:30 a.m. Perugia time) Prosecutor Manuela Comodi is challenging the forensics experts by questioning their experience. However, Judge Hellmann told her to stick to the report, and not to other cases in the forensics experts' past.
As the West Seattle Herald reported here following last Sunday's hearing, the two forensics experts spent hours reading protocol for collecting evidence for DNA testing from Europe to America that contradicted methods the prosecutors' DNA team originally used in the (first) murder trial of Meredith Kercher, Knox's college roommate in Perugia. Also, a video projected in court showed DNA collectors dropping and mishandling evidence wearing dirty gloves."
REPORTER STEVE SHAY; WEST SEATTLE HERALD;
(CONNECT WITH SITE BELOW FOR UPDATES OF TODAY'S HEARING);
http://www.westseattleherald.com/2011/07/30/news/final-hearing-amanda-knox-has-begun-her-appeal-le
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"The final hearing for West Seattle-raised Amanda Knox has just began, at about 10:00 a.m. in Perugia Italy, nine hours ahead of Seattle time, (PST)," the West Seattle Herald story by reporter Steve Shay published earlier today begins.
"The judge, Claudio Pratillo Hellmann, read a letter from a section of new forensic crime report. In the letter a manager for the judge defends the scientific work of the expertise of the two court-appointed independent forensic experts, and calls the findings by professors Stefano Conti and Carla Vecchiotti "damaging" to the image of the police," the story continues.
"Currently (11:30 a.m. Perugia time) Prosecutor Manuela Comodi is challenging the forensics experts by questioning their experience. However, Judge Hellmann told her to stick to the report, and not to other cases in the forensics experts' past.
As the West Seattle Herald reported here following last Sunday's hearing, the two forensics experts spent hours reading protocol for collecting evidence for DNA testing from Europe to America that contradicted methods the prosecutors' DNA team originally used in the (first) murder trial of Meredith Kercher, Knox's college roommate in Perugia. Also, a video projected in court showed DNA collectors dropping and mishandling evidence wearing dirty gloves.
During the current hearing it is expected that at least one DNA scientist in charge of the original collection of DNA evidence will cross-examine the experts. Legal experts in Italy and America have been telling media since last week's hearing that the video embarrassed the prosecution and that Knox's case for her innocence has been strengthened as a result.
After today's hearing, a four week summer recess takes place, and then all return to court Aug. 27 for closing arguments before the verdict is read.
We will update."
The story can be found at:
http://www.westseattleherald.com/2011/07/30/news/final-hearing-amanda-knox-has-begun-her-appeal-le
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 found at:
http://www.thestar.com/topic/charlessmith
Information on "The Charles Smith Blog Award"- and its nomination process - can be found at:
http://smithforensic.blogspot.com/2011/05/charles-smith-blog-award-nominations.html
Harold Levy: Publisher; The Charles Smith Blog; hlevy15@gmail.com;
