STORY: "Justice delayed: After three decades, an apology," by reporter Carrie Johnson, published by NPR on July 10, 2012.
PHOTO CAPTION: "Kirk Odom and his wife, Harriet, outside the H. Carl Moultrie Courthouse in Washington, D.C. On Tuesday, the Justice Department said there was "clear and convincing evidence" that Odom is innocent of a 1981 rape and robbery, for which he spent more than two decades behind bars."
GIST: "Nearly 31 years after he was convicted of rape and armed robbery, Kirk Odom on Tuesday all but won his fight to be declared an innocent man The Justice Department filed court papers saying, "There is clear and convincing evidence that Mr. Odom is innocent of the charges for which he was convicted," and apologized for the "terrible injustice." Prosecutors confirmed that DNA tests and hair analysis ruled him out as the culprit in a 1981 crime in Washington, D.C., but only after Odom spent more than two decades in prison, was placed on parole until 2047, and was forced to register as a convicted sex offender. Odom is one of only about 300 people nationwide to be exonerated by DNA after conviction. A judge must sign off on the motion to throw out Odom's convictions, but both sides described that as a foregone conclusion.........He eventually got out on parole. He found a job fixing heating, air conditioning and plumbing systems. And he found a wife — Harriet Kopi-Odom. "He's got a good heart. He's a hard working man, he's very loving," she says. And then Kirk Odom caught another break. At his lawyer's request, the government found stained bedsheets, a robe and that hair from the crime scene. They'd never been tested with state-of-the-art science. When the results came back, they cleared him......That still left the victim identification. But (defence lawyer) Levick pointed out some problems..."
The entire story can be found at:http://www.npr.org/2012/07/10/156547972/justice-delayed-after-three-decades-an-apology?ft=1&f=156547972
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.
