PASSAGE ONE OF THE DAY: "Kardashian West said she had finished watching the film "Just Mercy" – based on the true story of Walter McMillian, who successfully appealed his wrongful murder conviction in the early '90s – when she opened her email about Reed's case, which she "had recently been investigating." She said she had been hearing about Reed and his story for the last week and that she believes he is innocent. She then addressed Gov. Abbott, saying, "How can you execute a man when since his trial, substantial evidence that would exonerate Rodney Reed has come forward and even implicated the other person of interest. I URGE YOU TO DO THE RIGHT THING."
PASSAGE TWO OF THE DAY: "Reed is convicted of the 1996 murder of Stacey Stites. He has maintained his innocence as his lawyers appeal his case. Reed's defense claims that in the 20 years since his trial, there has been extensive evidence that both exonerates Reed and implicates Stites' fiancé, Jimmy Fennel. The defense said new witnesses have since come forward, including Stites' cousin and one of Stites' coworkers, who allegedly were aware of a romantic involvement between Reed and Stites. Theories about the Reed case were the subject of a recent "Dr. Phil" special, where the TV host sat down for a jailhouse interview with Reed. KVUE is also currently working on a podcast focused on Reed's case, "Texas Crime Files: Rodney Reed," which is set to be released on Nov. 1."
STORY: "Kim Kardashian West asks Gov. Abbott to intervene in scheduled execution of Rodney Reed," by reporter Britny Eubank, published by KVUE on October 19l 2019.
SUB-HEADING: "Kardashian West has been outspoken about criminal justice before."
GIST: "With just weeks until his execution date, Kim Kardashian West has joined the fight to save Death Row inmate Rodney Reed. Kardashian West tweeted at Governor Greg Abbott early Saturday morning, pleading for Reed. Kardashian West said she had finished watching the film "Just Mercy"
– based on the true story of Walter McMillian, who successfully
appealed his wrongful murder conviction in the early '90s – when she
opened her email about Reed's case, which she "had recently been
investigating." She
said she had been hearing about Reed and his story for the last week
and that she believes he is innocent. She then addressed Gov. Abbott,
saying, "How can you execute a
man when since his trial, substantial evidence that would exonerate
Rodney Reed has come forward and even implicated the other person of
interest. I URGE YOU TO DO THE RIGHT THING." Reed's family said the
support from someone with a voice eases their pain a little bit. "The
more people that know about that, the more people that hear about that,
will stand up and hopefully we'll all together ban and stop it – get
justice not only for Rodney, but for Stacey Stites as well," said
Roderick Reed, Rodney Reed's brother. "I can't imagine Governor
Abbot or Attorney General Paxton wanting or standing by while they take
an innocent person's life," said Sandra Reed, Rodney Reed's mother. Reed's
family said it's not over until he's out free. "We have proved his
innocence. They have not proven his guilt," said Sandra Reed. Kardashian
West then retweeted a series of articles about Reed's case and tweets
proclaiming his innocence. Kardashian
West has been outspoken on criminal justice before. In 2018, she pled
for President Donald Trump to grant clemency for a woman serving a life
sentence for drug offenses. President Trump granted that clemency to
Alice Marie Johnson. Reed is convicted of the 1996 murder of Stacey
Stites. He has maintained his innocence as his lawyers appeal his case.
Reed's
defense claims that in the 20 years since his trial, there has been
extensive evidence that both exonerates Reed and implicates Stites'
fiancé, Jimmy Fennel. The defense said new witnesses have since come
forward, including Stites' cousin and one of Stites' coworkers, who
allegedly were aware of a romantic involvement between Reed and Stites.
Theories about the Reed case were the subject of a recent "Dr. Phil" special,
where the TV host sat down for a jailhouse interview with Reed. KVUE is
also currently working on a podcast focused on Reed's case, "Texas
Crime Files: Rodney Reed," which is set to be released on Nov. 1. As Reed's execution day approaches, his family has been rallying at the Texas Capitol in protest. Reed's mother, Sandra, is expected to speak at the 20th Annual March to Abolish the Death Penalty at the Texas Capitol on Saturday afternoon. Reed is set to be executed on Nov. 20."
https://www.kvue.com/article/news/local/texas/kim-kardashian-west-rodney-reed/269-be03667a-6abe-4abd-abf2-5e276ed426e6
PETITION: To stop the execution of Rodney Reed:
https://www.change.org/p/stop-the-execution-of-rodney-reed
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;
