Sunday, September 2, 2012

Bulletin: Graham Stafford: Australia. He was freed after years in prison as a result of new forensic evidence; New charges likely to be laid?

STORY: "After the release of Graham Stafford, police close in on new suspect in the murder of Ipswich girl Leanne Holland: (Leanne Holland was murdered in 1991. Graham Stafford's conviction was quashed in 2009 after he served 15 years in prison).

GIST: "The authorities have confirmed investigations have come to a close and were likely to result in new charges being laid for the brutal killing of the 13-year-old Goodna, Ipswich, schoolgirl in 1991. Detectives on the original case took just three days from her disappearance to lock up Graham Stafford, the then boyfriend of Leanne's older sister. Mr Stafford was found guilty but cleared in December 2009. Investigations by then private investigator Graeme Crowley and The Sunday Mail produced crucial evidence for a third Court of Appeal hearing which resulted in the conviction being quashed." (The new evidence suggested that a maggot found by police on Mr. Stafford's boot was not the same genus as those found on Leanne's body - and that this error may have effected the reliability of the determined time of death. Moreover, a tire expert had since cast doubt on the reliability of a police officer's evidence that tire tracks found at the scene matched those of Mr. Stafford's car. HL).

http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/new-charges-to-come-over-murder-of-ipswich-girl-leanne-holland/story-e6freon6-1226463072852

For background go to:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graham_Stafford

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.