STORY: "Convicted Modesto arson killer can appeal," published by the Associated Press on April 27, 2012.
GIST: "A federal magistrate says there's enough evidence for a convicted Modesto arson killer to appeal the jury verdict. George Souliotes was sentenced to life in prison for setting a 1997 house fire that killed his three tenants, a mother and her 3-year-old daughter and 8-year-old son. Since the conviction, fire scientists have discredited the evidence used to convict Souliotes, and the state has conceded that it no longer can prove the blaze was deliberately set. The magistrate ruled in Fresno on Thursday that Souliotes can pursue federal appeal of his conviction, saying no reasonable juror would have found him guilty with the evidence now available."
GIST: "A federal magistrate says there's enough evidence for a convicted Modesto arson killer to appeal the jury verdict. George Souliotes was sentenced to life in prison for setting a 1997 house fire that killed his three tenants, a mother and her 3-year-old daughter and 8-year-old son. Since the conviction, fire scientists have discredited the evidence used to convict Souliotes, and the state has conceded that it no longer can prove the blaze was deliberately set. The magistrate ruled in Fresno on Thursday that Souliotes can pursue federal appeal of his conviction, saying no reasonable juror would have found him guilty with the evidence now available."
http://www.sacbee.com/2012/04/27/4447526/convicted-modesto-arson-killer.html
JUDGE SENG'S DECISION CAN BE FOUND AT :
http://www.thearsonproject.org/Docs/souliotes-evidentary-opinion.pdf
SEE FRONTLINE STORY: "HOW NEW FIRE SCIENCE IS INFLUENCING OLD CASES AT:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/criminal-justice/death-by-fire/how-new-fire-science-is-influencing-old-cases/
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/charlessmithThe 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:
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.
