Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Jeffrey MacDonald: Hearing underway in North Carolina. New DNA evidence to play a central role. News and Observer.


STORY: "Hearing for Jeffrey MacDonald opens in North Carolina," by reporter Anne Blythe, published by the News and Observer on September 17, 2012.

GIST: "Though the hearing in Wilmington is not a retrial, it ultimately could conclude with U.S. District Judge James Fox ordering a new trial, vacating the conviction or ruling that all the evidence would not have led a reasonable jury to a different conclusion from the one that has been unsuccessfully challenged many times in the ensuing 32 years. The hearing was scheduled after the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals kicked the matter back to the trial court, ordering that new DNA evidence be considered in the broader context of statements made since the trial from a retired U.S. marshal and the mother of a heroin addict. "The evidence supporting these claims, in light of the evidence as a whole, will compellingly demonstrate reasonable doubt as to MacDonald's guilt," said Gordon Widenhouse, a new member of MacDonald's defense team. "No reasonable juror," he said, would find MacDonald guilty. Prosecutor John Bruce, though, contended otherwise."

The entire story can be found at:

 http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/09/17/168807/hearing-for-jeffrey-macdonald.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.