"The judges are considering claims of innocence by Kenneth Kagonyera and Robert Wilcoxson, who were convicted of second-degree murder in the 2000 slaying of Walter Rodney Bowman at the victim’s home in Fairview.
'The defense has the burden to prove the defendants are innocent “by clear and convincing evidence,” said Judge Erwin Spainhour of Cabarrus County, who is presiding over the hearing in Buncombe County Superior Court.
In her opening argument, Assistant District Attorney Kate Dreher pointed out that Kagonyera and Wilcoxson pleaded guilty in Bowman’s slaying.
“They knew what they were doing,” she said. “These individuals stood before a Superior Court judge and swore on a Bible they were in fact guilty.”"
REPORTER CLARKE MORRISON; THE CITIZEN TIMES;
PHOTO: KENNETH KAGONYERA.
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" Two Buncombe County men were convicted of a murder they didn’t commit and evidence shows others were responsible for the crime, attorneys argued before a special three-judge panel today," the Citizen Times story by reporter Clarke Morrison published earlier today under the heading, "Innocence hearing gets under way in Asheville," begins.
“"This case becomes the story of two innocent men,” attorney Noell Tin said in opening arguments to the judicial panel assembled at the direction of the N.C. Innocence Inquiry Commission. “Our position is the wrong group was charged," the story continues.
"The judges are considering claims of innocence by Kenneth Kagonyera and Robert Wilcoxson, who were convicted of second-degree murder in the 2000 slaying of Walter Rodney Bowman at the victim’s home in Fairview.
The defense has the burden to prove the defendants are innocent “by clear and convincing evidence,” said Judge Erwin Spainhour of Cabarrus County, who is presiding over the hearing in Buncombe County Superior Court.
In her opening argument, Assistant District Attorney Kate Dreher pointed out that Kagonyera and Wilcoxson pleaded guilty in Bowman’s slaying.
“They knew what they were doing,” she said. “These individuals stood before a Superior Court judge and swore on a Bible they were in fact guilty.”
The hearing is expected to last several days."---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The story can be found at:
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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 found 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;
