Bulletin: Jennifer Hancock; Illinois; First of 2 parts; Key witness in shaken baby syndrome case, a forensic pathologist, says he can no longer stand behind his testimony that abuse was the only possible cause - and now says that death could have resulted from natural or other causes. New information in case uncovered by journalism students from Northwestern University’s Medill Justice Project working in collaboration with the Wisconsin State Journal. (Must Must Read. HL);

STORY: "Key witness changes his view about 2007 infant-death case," by  State Journal reporter Dee J. Hall and journalism students from Northwestern University's Medill Justice Project: Cameron Albert-Deitch, Callie Counsellor, Rebecca Friedman, Christian Holub, Katherine Mirani, Mark Olalde, Alexa Santos, Nicole Sampedro, Jaclyn Skurie and Kevin Trahan, published by the Wisconsin State Journal on May 18, 2014.  The Medill Justice Project, founded in 1999, is an investigative journalism enterprise that examines potentially wrongful convictions, probes systemic criminal justice issues and conducts groundbreaking research. The students were part of an investigative journalism class taught by Northwestern University Professor Alec Klein, director of The Medill Justice Project. Amanda Westrich, The Medill Justice Project’s research associate, also contributed to this report.

SUB-HEADING: "Shaky conviction: The Jennifer Hancock case." 

SUB-HEADING:  "Prosecution witness reconsiders testimony that helped convict Jennifer Hancock."

PHOTO CAPTION:  "Jennifer Hancock with her daughter, Emily, 9, and son, Brett, 13, at Taycheedah Correctional Institution in Fond du Lac in March. Hancock, 43, of Verona, has been imprisoned for five years after being convicted in the death of a 4-month-old at her home day care. The Wisconsin Innocence Project is planning an appeal."

GIST: "When Lincoln Wilber was rushed to the hospital on Sept. 7, 2007, after falling limp at his day care, doctors discovered bleeding — some fresh, some old — on the 4-month-old boy’s brain. An X-ray showed a fracture of his tiny left leg — one typically associated with abuse — and another scan revealed what appeared to be a skull fracture. Doctors and police quickly began to suspect the boy’s day care provider, Jennifer Hancock, then 36. During an eight-day trial in March 2009, medical experts testified that Lincoln was killed by someone who shook or hit him, causing the veins in his brain to rupture, even though there was no neck injury or external sign of abuse, such as bruising. No testimony carried more weight than that of Dr. Michael Stier, the forensic pathologist who performed the autopsy on Lincoln for the Dane County Coroner’s Office. Stier testified that the brain bleeding, known as a subdural hematoma, “was a marker for non-accidental type of injury.” Hancock was convicted of causing Lincoln’s death and is serving a 13-year prison term. But in a series of interviews this spring, Stier said he can no longer stand behind his testimony that abuse was the only possible cause. He now believes Lincoln could have died from natural or other causes. “I want to make sure that something I did did not lead to an injustice,” Stier said in explaining why he is speaking out now. Five other experts interviewed recently for this story said there are several possible explanations for Lincoln’s injuries and death, citing new information that has emerged. And if there was abuse, they said, it’s doubtful it can be tied to Hancock. The new information was uncovered by journalism students from Northwestern University’s Medill Justice Project working in collaboration with the Wisconsin State Journal."

The entire story can be found at:

http://host.madison.com/news/local/crime_and_courts/key-witness-changes-his-view-about-infant-death-case/article_0252a2b9-0644-5a3b-a775-96fb031211d8.html

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.ca/2013/12/the-charles-smith-award-presented-to_28.html
 
I look forward to hearing from readers at:

hlevy15@gmail.com.
 
Harold Levy: Publisher; The Charles Smith Blog;