COUNTDOWN: 22 days to Wrongful Conviction Day: (Thursday October 2, 2014);
STORY: "Second trial for Ed Graf Jr. brings difficulties 25 years after the alleged crime," by reporter Adam Hammons, published by KXXV-TV News on September 5, 2014.
SUB-HEADING: "What information potential jurors receive could be an issue leading up to a retrial of a capital murder case."
GIST: "The defense
argued Friday morning that potential jurors might be prejudice if they
don't understand why Graf is being tried 25 years after the alleged
crime. Jeff Blackburn works for Innocence Project of Texas and worked to
get the retrial. He says that issue will be very difficult. "You
know that's a real 800 pound gorilla that's just sitting in the room,
you can't get around that. And the idea that you could even find a juror
some where who never heard of it or just thinks that oh 25 years later I
guess they're just bringing the charges up for the first time, that
kind of stretches the imagination a little bit," Blackburn said. Blackburn
also says this case is one of the very first to be retried after
previous arson science was debunked. One of Graf's attorney's called
this case an anomaly. "Mr. Graf's case is extremely significant
because it's really and truly a great example of how justice is supposed
to unfold in this state," Blackburn said. "I think that if he's fairly
tried according to real science I think we're going to see a result that
might astonish people." Jury selection is set to begin October 6."
The entire story can be found at:
http://www.kxxv.com/story/26461673/second-trial-for-ed-graf-jr-brings-difficulties-25-years-after-the-alleged-crime
For background on Wrongful Conviction Day see the following link:
http://smithforensic.blogspot.ca/2014/06/wrongful-convictions-day-aidwyc.html
Interested participants may sign up by contacting Win Wahrer of The
Association in Defence of the Wrongfully Convicted at:
winwahrer@aidwyc.org.
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;
