Bulletin: Jeffrey Havard: Mississippi; Another report on his request from death row for a new trial; "Death row inmate Jeffrey Havard is arguing in a motion for a new trial that evidence of Shaken Baby Syndrome used to convict him of capital murder is now distrusted by the scientific and medical communities."..." In the years since, medical belief that these symptoms provided iron-clad proof of homicide has begun to crumble with several studies raising doubts. In 2009, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended the syndrome diagnosis be replaced with "abusive head trauma." Havard argued to the Supreme Court that he didn't know anything about such arguments or he would have had his attorney investigate. State prosecutors said the information was readily available if Havard had only looked. Kentucky.com.

"Death row inmate Jeffrey Havard is arguing in a motion for a new trial that evidence of Shaken Baby Syndrome used to convict him of capital murder is now distrusted by the scientific and medical communities. Havard filed the motion in Alcorn County Circuit Court in June. Prosecutors have until Aug. 31 to respond. In April, the Mississippi Supreme Court ruled Havard could seek a new trial on the issue of Shaken Baby Syndrome. An Adams County judge will determine if Havard's argument has any validity.........For decades, Shaken Baby Syndrome was widely accepted, diagnosed through a triad of symptoms: subdural bleeding (blood collecting between the brain and the skull), retinal bleeding (bleeding in the back of the eye) and brain swelling. In the years since, medical belief that these symptoms provided iron-clad proof of homicide has begun to crumble with several studies raising doubts. In 2009, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended the syndrome diagnosis be replaced with "abusive head trauma." Havard argued to the Supreme Court that he didn't know anything about such arguments or he would have had his attorney investigate.
State prosecutors said the information was readily available if Havard had only looked."

Read more here: http://www.kentucky.com/2015/07/30/3966922_death-row-inmate-asks-for-new.html?rh=1#storylink=cpyhttp://www.kentucky.com/2015/07/30/3966922/death-row-inmate-asks-for-new.html