Wednesday, January 24, 2018

William Amor; Illinois; Arson 'science'...False confessions: Trial begins in 1995 Naperville arson murder case in which last April, "Three fire science experts testified last spring during Amor's new hearing that not only would a cigarette not ignite a newspaper and vodka, but that lab-tested samples found no ignitable liquids at the scene."


PASSAGE OF THE DAY:"In April, Brennan vacated Amor's 1997 murder conviction on charges he intentionally ignited the September 1995 fire after ruling that advances in fire science proved the description Amor gave in his original confession to police was impossible. Amor has been free on $100,000 bail since May 31."

STORY: "Trial begins in 1995 Naperville arson murder case," by reporter Justin Kmitch, published by The Daily Herald on January 24 2018.

GIST: "When it came to murdering his mother-in-law, prosecutors say arson was actually William Amor's second choice. He wanted to drug her, they say, but had difficulty figuring out the quantity necessary to ensure an overdose. So instead, prosecutors allege Amor, 62, ignited the fire that killed Marianne Miceli on Sept. 10, 1995, as she remained trapped in her smoke-filled bedroom waiting for help to arrive. Prosecutors say Amor killed her in an attempt to collect insurance money so he and his then 18-year-old wife could move out of the government housing apartment they shared with Miceli in Naperville. "His marriage was on the rocks. He had no job. He had no money. He was stressed and he blamed Marianne for the problems in his marriage," Assistant State's Attorney Thomas Minser said in his opening argument Wednesday in Amor's new trial on the murder charges. "Killing Marianne solved his problem. The insurance money would be paid out to Tina and the defendant gets rid of the anchor that was tearing apart his marriage." Amor's attorney, Lauren Kaeseberg, said Amor had nothing to gain from any insurance payout and instead was the victim of law enforcement's tunnel vision. "This case had an impact on first responders and law enforcement and they wanted to help the Miceli family find answers," Kaeseberg said. "From the moment they met Bill Amor at the scene, they had their answer." Amor confessed in 1995 that he started the fire by leaving a smoldering cigarette on a newspaper that had been soaked in vodka. His attorneys have maintained the confession was coerced. Three fire science experts testified last spring during Amor's new hearing that not only would a cigarette not ignite a newspaper and vodka, but that lab-tested samples found no ignitable liquids at the scene. Kaeseberg told Judge Liam Brennan that without the confession, there is no evidence. "Make them prove it was an arson. Make them prove it was a murder. They can't do it," she said. In April, Brennan vacated Amor's 1997 murder conviction on charges he intentionally ignited the September 1995 fire after ruling that advances in fire science proved the description Amor gave in his original confession to police was impossible. Amor has been free on $100,000 bail since May 31.Had his conviction not been overturned, Amor would have been released from prison in March after serving half his original sentence."

The entire story can be found at:
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20180124/trial-begins-in-1995-naperville-arson-murder-case

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.