COMMENTARY: "Further investigation needed in case of executed man," by Bob Ray Sanders, published by the Star-Telegram on October 1, 2013.
GIST: "Prosecutors in the case
relied on testimony from a jailhouse informant to connect Willingham to
the fire. Johnny Webb, in jail on charges of aggravated robbery,
testified that Willingham confessed to him that he had committed the
crime. In 2000, four years before Willingham’s execution, Webb
recanted that statement in a motion to a judge, the same person who had
been the lead prosecutor in the case. He said he “was forced to testify
against Willingham by the D.A.s [sic] office and other officials. I was
made to lie,” according to a news release from the Innocence Project. Although
the district attorney’s office knew of the recantation, no one
representing Willingham was made aware of it. The Innocence Project said
it also has evidence that the prosecutor and other Navarro County
authorities tried to help Webb get a reduced sentence in exchange for
his testimony. The former prosecutor denies any misconduct in the case, according to the Texas Tribune. The new allegations must be investigated. “There
are only two mistakes one can make on the road to truth: not going all
the way and not starting,” said Barry Scheck, co-director of the
Innocence Project. “The reason an investigation is so critical in this
case isn’t to affix blame on Gov. Perry or any one individual. Everyone
has responsibility if not for making error then for failing to detect
them.” He’s right. So, let’s find the whole truth then do the right thing.""
The entire story can be found at:
http://www.star-telegram.com/2013/10/01/5212337/further-investigation-needed-in.html?rh=1
PUBLISHER'S NOTE:
Dear Reader. Keep your eye on the Charles Smith Blog. We are following this case.
I have added a search box for content in this blog which now encompasses
several thousand posts. The search box is located near the bottom of
the screen just above the list of links. I am confident that this
powerful search tool provided by "Blogger" will help our readers and
myself get more out of the site.
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
