Sonia Cacy: Texas; Aftermath: (Part (1): Major Development; She has been declared actually innocent of a murder conviction secured two decades ago with shoddy fire science...."The prosecution presented a fire scientist who told jurors he had found fire accelerant on Richardson's body. Cacy was paroled in 1998 when lawyers submitted new scientific evidence indicating that Richardson died of a heart attack, not burns. They also found that there was no accelerant on his body, and that the burns on his corpse were probably from the mattress on the cot where he slept. Though she was out of prison, the murder conviction proved a lasting hurdle, interfering with her employment and housing. She has continued to report regularly to a parole officer. (Defence lawyer) Udashen said the wrongful conviction ruined Cacy's life. For years, she was afraid to return to the courtroom to challenge the conviction, but additional scientific evidence bolstered her case."

STORY: "Texas woman, wrongly convicted and severely ill, declared innocent in 1993 murder," by reporters Terri Langford and Brandi Grissom, published by The Dallas Morning News on November 2, 2016.

 GIST: "The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals on Wednesday declared Sonia Cacy, a 68-year-old whose health is failing, actually innocent of a murder conviction secured two decades ago with shoddy fire science. "This is a very stark example of how bad science in the courtroom can really ruin peoples lives," said Gary Udashen, Cacy's Dallas-based lawyer. "I'm happy courts have recognized the mistake here in her case." The ruling by the state's highest criminal court allows Cacy to apply for compensation from the state for the five years she spent wrongfully imprisoned.........Cacy was convicted in 1993 of murdering her uncle, Bill Richardson, after prosecutors convinced a jury that she set him ablaze to get a house and other assets he had left to her in his will. The prosecution presented a fire scientist who told jurors he had found fire accelerant on Richardson's body. Cacy was paroled in 1998 when lawyers submitted new scientific evidence indicating that Richardson died of a heart attack, not burns. They also found that there was no accelerant on his body, and that the burns on his corpse were probably from the mattress on the cot where he slept. Though she was out of prison, the murder conviction proved a lasting hurdle, interfering with her employment and housing. She has continued to report regularly to a parole officer. Udashen said the wrongful conviction ruined Cacy's life. For years, she was afraid to return to the courtroom to challenge the conviction, but additional scientific evidence bolstered her case. "We had to convince her they were going to treat her fairly this time," Udashen said. This summer, state prosecutor Lisa McMinn recommended that Texas' highest criminal court declare Cacy actually innocent after a lower-court judge was convinced that new evidence absolved her of wrongdoing.

The entire story can be found at:

 http://www.dallasnews.com/news/crime/2016/11/02/sonia-cacy-declared-innocent-1993-arson-murder

PUBLISHER'S NOTE:  I am monitoring this case/issue. Keep your eye on the Charles Smith Blog for reports on developments. 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.com/2011/05/charles-smith-blog-award-nominations.html  Please send any comments or information on other cases and issues of interest to the readers of this blog to: hlevy15@gmail.com. Harold Levy; Publisher; The Charles Smith Blog.