A hearing Thursday could decide whether DNA testing will be done on evidence in a murder case from 1976.
The case involves William Thomas Zeigler Jr, currently on death row for the murders of his wife, in-laws and a customer in his Winter Garden furniture store. Zeigler himself was hurt in the shooting.
Supporters have long maintained that Zeigler was the victim of a set-up. They say Zeigler was well-known for his work to expose a loan-sharking scheme that preyed upon poor black migrant workers.
Zeigler said he arrived at the store on Christmas Eve 1976 to find power shut off. He says he was hit over the head by at least two men. He says he tried to defend himself, but was knocked unconscious.
Zeigler was accused and convicted of committing the murders to collect a $500,00 life insurance policy on his wife. They also claim that Zeigler's wife was having an affair with a man who was a prominent local figure, and that she planned to expose him before she was murdered.
In 2007, the Florida Supreme Court denied an appeal by Zeigler based on new DNA evidence.
The new hearing will take place in Orlando Thursday morning.
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;
