PUBLISHER'S VIEW: The Innocence Project has asked the public to join with it in calling on Texas Governor Greg Abbott and The Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles to grant clemency to Rodney Reed to prevent the execution of a likely innocent man. Rodney Reed is scheduled to be executed on March 5, despite mounting evidence of his innocence. The Project tells us that "incredibly, the state has fought our efforts to conduct DNA testing that could prove who is really responsible." I for one will do as the Innocent Project asks, and send messages seeking clemency to the Governor and the Board accordingly. I hope our readers will do so as well.
Harold Levy; Publisher; The Charles Smith Blog.
RELEASE: From Bryce Benjet, Staff Attorney, The Innocence Project.
GIST: Join us in calling on Texas Governor Gregg Abbott and The Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles to grant clemency to Rodney Reed to prevent the execution of a likely innocent man. Rodney Reed is scheduled to be executed on March 5, despite mounting evidence of his innocence. With so much doubt around who the true perpetrator is in his case, it is unconscionable that the State of Texas would move forward with his execution. After the original medical examiner in Rodney’s case changed his opinion as to the time of death, three respected forensic pathologist recently reviewed the evidence and concluded that Stacey Stites, the victim, was likely killed long before she was alleged to have been abducted and killed by Reed on her way to work on April 23, 1996. In fact, this new evidence provides extremely persuasive evidence that the crime was committed by Stites’ fiancé, an early suspect and a former police sergeant who is currently in prison for kidnapping and improper sexual contact with a person in custody. Yet, incredibly, the state has fought our efforts to conduct DNA testing that could prove who is really responsible. In addition to the new scientific evidence pointing to his innocence, two of the victim’s former co-workers now corroborate Rodney’s claims that he was having a clandestine romantic relationship with Stites. Rodney says they kept the relationship private because it was an interracial relationship in a small town and because the victim was engaged. It is vitally important that as many people as possible contact the Governor and Parole Board and let them know that it’s never acceptable to execute a possibly innocent person."
The entire release can be found at:
http://us2.campaign-archive2.com/?u=0dda05c811974dccb9ccf5c04&id=d2369b59e4&e=8b36d51157
See related story: "Attorneys for Texas death row inmate Rodney Reed say they have new evidence proving he is not guilty. "Reed was convicted of the rape and murder of Stacy Stites in Bastrop in 1996. His execution date is set for March 5, but his attorney is confident they can get the execution pushed back. Reed’s defense is filing a petition asking the court to reconsider the case. It includes findings from three forensic scientists claiming their evidence shows Reed could not have been the person who killed Stites. It all has to do with timing.
Prosecutors have said all along that Stites was killed around 3 a.m. and her body was found about 12 hours later. They say Reed abducted, raped and strangled her.
However, Reed’s defense attorney says their new evidence shows she was killed hours earlier, the night before. And he says the only person with her was her fiancé, Jimmy Fennel. The defense also says Stites and Reed had been in a relationship for a few months and that is why his DNA was found."
http://myinforms.com/en-us/a/10705043-rodney-reed-attorney-says-new-evidence-proves-innocence/
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/
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;
