William Amor. Illinois. (Flawed arson 'science'/false confession); Man cleared in 1995 Naperville murder/arson he is seeking compensation from a very unwilling state..." Prosecutors maintained throughout the trial that Amor ignited the fatal fire to collect insurance money so he and his bride, Tina Micelli, could start a new life together. In vacating the convictions, Brennan ruled that advances in fire science proved the description of the crime Amor gave in his confession to police -- that he started the fire with a cigarette and a vodka-soaked newspaper -- was impossible."..."Paul Darrah, spokesman for DuPage State's Attorney Robert Berlin, said Friday prosecutors are "strenuously opposing (Amor's) petition for his certificate of innocence."

PUBLISHER'S NOTE: This Blog is interested in false confessions because of the disturbing number of exonerations in the USA, Canada and multiple other jurisdictions throughout the world, where, in the absence of incriminating forensic evidence the conviction is based on self-incrimination – and because of the growing body of  scientific research showing how vulnerable suspects   are to widely used interrogation methods  such as  the notorious ‘Reid Technique.’
Harold Levy: Publisher; The Charles Smith Blog.
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STORY: "Man cleared in 1995 Naperville murder seeks compensation from state,"  by reporter Justin Kmitch, published by The Daily Herald on May 19, 2018.

GIST:  "William Amor spent 22 years in an Illinois prison for an arson and murder a judge later acquitted him of. After his February retrial and subsequent acquittal in DuPage County, the former Naperville man now wants his record expunged and a certificate of innocence from the state that could be redeemed under the state's wrongfully convicted compensation statute. According to the formula in the statute, Amor, who turns 62 on Sunday, could qualify to receive the maximum compensation of roughly $220,000. Amor's new attorney, Kathleen Zellner, filed the petition in DuPage. A representative for Zellner, however, said she will not discuss the case until May 25.

Paul Darrah, spokesman for DuPage State's Attorney Robert Berlin, said Friday prosecutors are "strenuously opposing (Amor's) petition for his certificate of innocence." A June 18 court date has been set for prosecutors to officially file their objection. Judge Liam Brennan found Amor not guilty of all arson and murder charges in the 1995 death of Amor's mother-in-law, Marianne Miceli, in a fire at a condo on the 1800 block of Bailey Road in Naperville. The Feb. 22 ruling came nearly three weeks after Amor's bench trial concluded and roughly 10 months after Brennan vacated Amor's 1997 arson and murder convictions related to the case.Throughout his trial and pretrial hearings, Amor was represented by attorneys from the University of Illinois at Springfield's Illinois Innocence Project."

The entire story can be found at:

http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20180518/man-cleared-in-1995-naperville-murder-seeks-certificate-of-innocence

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.