QUOTE OF THE DAY: "Last night, Texas executed our client Larry Swearingen despite credible evidence of the innocence he maintained for almost 20 years on death row and including his last moments. His final words were a gesture of forgiveness to the state officials who took his life. "Lord forgive them. They don't know what they are doing."
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PASSAGE OF THE DAY: "In Larry's case, the state refused to reopen his murder conviction despite extensive evidence of innocence, which you can read about here: the absence of his DNA at the crime scene and presence of blood from another unidentified man under the victim's fingernail; forensic testimony that is scientifically baseless and would not be permitted today; and the analysis of numerous pathologists that concluded the victim's time of death occurred when Larry had been in jail for weeks because of unpaid parking tickets."
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RELEASE: "Remember Larry Swearingen" posted by The Innocence Project on August 22, 2019.
GIST "Last night, Texas executed our client Larry Swearingen despite credible evidence of the innocence he maintained for almost 20 years on death row and including his last moments. His final words were a gesture of forgiveness to the state officials who took his life. "Lord forgive them. They don't know what they are doing." Larry liked to draw, play chess, and listen to the Houston Symphony Orchestra on the radio. He wrote holiday cards to the prison staff every year, and maintained both a resilient sense of humor and a faith that his innocence would eventually be recognized. This is not the first time Texas has executed someone despite overwhelming evidence of innocence, and it may not be the last as long as wrongful convictions remain widespread and the courts remain more interested in finality than truth, even with a human life at stake. In Larry's case, the state refused to reopen his murder conviction despite extensive evidence of innocence, which you can read about here: the absence of his DNA at the crime scene and presence of blood from another unidentified man under the victim's fingernail; forensic testimony that is scientifically baseless and would not be permitted today; and the analysis of numerous pathologists that concluded the victim's time of death occurred when Larry had been in jail for weeks because of unpaid parking tickets. The Innocence Project advocates for a nationwide moratorium on the death penalty because of the intolerably and unconscionably high risk of executing an innocent person—as illustrated by the 165 people exonerated in the United States after being sentenced to death. Today, we are thinking of Larry and his family and all those affected by the refusal to pursue the truth in this case. You can read more of our team's remembrances of his life here. At this unspeakably painful moment and always, we thank you for being with us in our efforts to pursue justice for our clients and seek a system where taking an innocent life is not possible. Thank you for your support."
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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;
