Thursday, January 23, 2020

Ledell Lee: Arkansas: Bulletin: Major Development: The Innocence Project, ACLU to release new information, litigation related to his execution in April 2017 for the 1993 murder of Debra Reese..."The Innocence Project and ACLU were brought in two weeks before the execution. They say they found flaws in the evidence used to convict Lee and they found DNA evidence that likely belonged to the killer that was not tested with modern technology. The press conference is Thursday at 10 a.m. at the Darragh Center at the Main Library downtown. Lee’s brother and sister will be there today."


RELEASE:  "The Innocence Project and the American Civil Liberties Union will announce Thursday morning what they say is new information and litigation related to the 2017 execution of Ledell Lee. Lee was executed in April 2017 for the 1993 murder of Debra Reese. Lee, who was 27 years old at the time of the murder, robbed and strangled Reese, 26, in her Jacksonville home. He was sentenced to death two years later. He maintained his innocence until his execution. The Innocence Project and ACLU were brought in two weeks before the execution. They say they found flaws in the evidence used to convict Lee and they found DNA evidence that likely belonged to the killer that was not tested with modern technology. The press conference is Thursday at 10 a.m. at the Darragh Center at the Main Library downtown. Lee’s brother and sister will be there today."

The entire release can be read at:
https://www.kark.com/news/the-innocence-project-aclu-to-release-new-information-litigation-related-to-execution-of-ledell-lee/

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Read  Marshall Project commentary (April 4, 2017): "Ledell Lee never had a chance."  https://www.themarshallproject.org/2017/04/27/ledell-lee-never-had-a-chance

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;

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FINAL WORD:  (Applicable to all of our wrongful conviction cases):  "Whenever there is a wrongful conviction, it exposes errors in our criminal legal system, and we hope that this case — and lessons from it — can prevent future injustices.""
Lawyer Radha Natarajan:
Executive Director: New England Innocence Project;