Glenn Ford: Columnist Leonard Pitts sets out his view of former Marty Proust's response to the Sun Herald editorial. "His experience should serve as a warning to those who persist in believing the death penalty is justice. The death penalty, writes Stroud, is "an abomination." The death penalty is "state-assisted revenge." He didn't always feel that way, but he has paid a high price for his education. And he will continue to pay. After all, Glenn Ford eventually walked free. Marty Stroud never will." (The New Orleans-based Ministry Against the Death Penalty, originating through the work of Sister Helen Prejean, is accepting donations for Ford through PayPal and credit card payments at Prejean's website.) (Must Read HL);

PUBLISHER'S VIEW (EDITORIAL): "Better late than ever" works for me in this case. The plea for compensation for Mr.  Ford may be long overdue - but it appears to be the heartfelt plea of a tormented man. I suspected  that the State of Alabama  had a very rigid criminal justice system - but I had no idea that any state could be so cruel as to  deny compensation  in circumstances so clearly of its own  making. My heart goes out to Mr. Ford and   and a 'high five" to  the lawyers who have  fought so hard for his exoneration  and release. A fund has been set up    I am contributing to this fund and I encourage our readers, wherever they are located to follow suit.

Harold Levy: Publisher; The Charles Smith Blog.


COMMENTARY: "Glenn Ford walks free, Marty Stroud never will," by Leonard Pitts, published by the  on March 24, 2015.

GIST: "He apologizes to the jurors, to the court, to the family of the victim, and to Ford "for all the misery I have caused him and his family." And Stroud, now a 63-year-old attorney in private practice, also says this: "No one should be given the ability to impose a sentence of death in any criminal proceeding. We are simply incapable of devising a system that can fairly and impartially impose a sentence of death because we are all fallible human beings." Some of us consider that a self-evident truth. Yet learning that truth cost Stroud his good opinion of himself and 30 years of another man's life. His experience should serve as a warning to those who persist in believing the death penalty is justice. The death penalty, writes Stroud, is "an abomination." The death penalty is "state-assisted revenge." He didn't always feel that way, but he has paid a high price for his education. And he will continue to pay. After all, Glenn Ford eventually walked free. Marty Stroud never will."

The entire commentary can be found at: 

http://www.sunherald.com/2015/03/24/6140841_leonard-pitts-jr-glenn-ford-walks.html?rh=1

See related story on Louisiana's refusal to compensate Glenn Ford - and details of a fund set up through the Innocence project to help hi through these difficult times: "New Orleans-based Ministry Against the Death Penalty, originating through the work of Sister Helen Prejean, is accepting donations for Ford through PayPal and credit card payments at Prejean's website. Rose Vines, who oversees the website, said several hundreds of dollars were given Monday. The fund initially was created when Ford was released. Activity quietened down afterwards but interest has been renewed in recent weeks with attention to Ford's health. "Because of the news, people want to help him," Vines said. Wenstrom said a Go Fund Me account is set up, too."

 http://www.shreveporttimes.com/story/news/local/2015/03/09/glenn-ford-new-orleans-shreveport-innocence-project-ministry-death-penalty-sister-helen-prejean/24674357/

PS: For latest coverage of the Mark Lundy retrial  go to: 

 http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/mark-lundy-murder-retrial 

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;