STORY: "Alabama says "no" to DNA testing as execution date approaches, posted by Nancy Petro on the Wrongful Convictions Blog, on August 15, 2012.
GIST: "The state of Alabama has spent countless taxpayer dollars prosecuting and imprisoning Arthur…and successfully opposing DNA testing of the wig worn by the perpetrator. An article on the case in The Atlantic here suggests “the figure must be astounding–millions upon millions.” His lawyers are willing to pay for the testing if cost were somehow the issue. The case is complicated. No physical evidence connects Arthur to the crime, and another man eventually confessed. Arthur was convicted of the murder three times, but advocates say here that his court-appointed lawyers had never tried a capital case, were paid minimally, and were ill-prepared. Arthur has a history of violence. He was convicted of another prior murder. His daughter knows as well as anyone that he has been abusive. But she’s not sure that he committed THIS crime. Thomas Arthur is not a poster child for those opposed to capital punishment. But his case is a good ethics test for Alabama and, in turn, for America. We must be certain of a person’s guilt of the specific crime in question before any execution. It is unacceptable to execute someone without examining all evidence even if he or she is “a bad person.”"
The entire post can be found at:
http://wrongfulconvictionsblog.org/2012/08/15/alabama-says-no-to-dna-testing-as-execution-day-approaches/
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.
