STORY: "NC innocence panel orders review in rape case," by reporter Martha Waggoner, published on April 4, 2012 by the Associated Press.
GIST: "A North Carolina panel that's unique in the country determined Wednesday that a man serving a life sentence for rape should get a chance at freedom, thanks largely to fingerprints on bananas. The state Innocence Inquiry Commission heard testimony over three days before deciding unanimously that enough credible evidence of innocence exists to refer the case of Willie Grimes to a three-judge panel that will ultimately decide whether Grimes should be declared innocent of the crime.........Besides the fingerprints, all other physical evidence in the case has inexplicably disappeared even though no one has found any court order to destroy it. The Hickory Police Department found the fingerprint cards after the commission began investigating. The innocence commission, which recommends that cases get judicial review only if they meet rigorous criteria, has examined about 1,300 cases since the Legislature established it in August 2006. If the commission makes a recommendation, the cases are taken up by a three-judge panel that can reverse a conviction only if the decision is unanimous. So far, three people have been freed through the commission's work, all of whom had been convicted of murder."
THE ENTIRE STORY CAN BE FOUND AT
http://www.heraldonline.com/2012/04/04/3870631/nc-innocence-panel-considers-rape.html
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.
