STORY: "Hannah Overton capital murder hearing ends; wait begins," by reporter Michelle Villarreal, published in the Corpus Christi Caller-Record on April 30, 2012.
GIST: "Hannah Overton is innocent and spent nearly five years behind bars because of ineffective counsel and withheld evidence. That's what her attorneys spent six days trying to prove to 214th District Judge Jose Longoria. Overton broke into tears during closing arguments Monday and again cried before she was led away to jail. "We pray that your honor consider this scientific evidence and find that Hannah is actually innocent and should be released from prison and returned to her husband and family," said John Raley, one of Overton's attorneys.........Prosecutors argued that Overton's team of at least six trial attorneys were experienced and denied claims that any evidence such as samples of the boy's stomach contents and test results were withheld. Prosecutor Bill Ainsworth reminded Longoria that the jury convicted Overton in 2007 because they believed she failed to act in time to save Andrew. "I think it is important to consider the justice and memory for Andrew Burd," Ainsworth said.........Cynthia Orr, one of Overton's attorneys, said Monday that the prosecution withheld key pieces of evidence during trial, specifically Andrew's vomit, photographs of his stomach contents and a report that detailed testing. Orr said Overton didn't knowingly kill the boy and withheld evidence would have proved it."
THE ENTIRE STORY CAN BE FOUND AT:http://www.caller.com/news/2012/apr/30/day-six-of-hannah-overton-capital-murder-hearing/
PUBLISHER'S NOTE:
I am monitoring this case. Keep your eye on the Charles Smith Blog for reports on developments.
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
Please send any comments or information on other cases and issues of interest to the readers of this blog to: hlevy15@gmail.com
Harold Levy: Publisher; The Charles Smith Blog;
