Walter "Arkie" Barton: RIP: (Flawed blood splatter case): Executed earlier this evening by the State of Missouri (to its great shame HL) "despite strong claims of innocence," says the Innocence Project in a release..."From the start, Walter’s case was marred by prosecutorial misconduct and an inadequate defense, with evidence so problematic that he was tried five times. Three jurors who voted to convict Walter at his last trial now say they would vote differently based on new evidence supporting his innocence. These issues prompted a federal judge to grant a stay of execution on Friday, but the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit vacated the stay just two days later and both Missouri’s governor and the United States Supreme Court refused to intervene."

RELEASE: Walter Barton is likely innocent, but Missouri still executed him, released by The Innocence Project on May 29, 2020. GIST: "Earlier this evening, Missouri executed Walter “Arkie” Barton despite strong claims of innocence. He was the first person to be executed in the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic. From the start, Walter’s case was marred by prosecutorial misconduct and an inadequate defense, with evidence so problematic that he was tried five times. Three jurors who voted to convict Walter at his last trial now say they would vote differently based on new evidence supporting his innocence. These issues prompted a federal judge to grant a stay of execution on Friday, but the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit vacated the stay just two days later and both Missouri’s governor and the United States Supreme Court refused to intervene. Since 1976, there have been 167 innocent people exonerated from death row — that means for every nine people executed in the U.S. in the modern era of the death penalty, one person on death row has been exonerated. It is unconscionable that this execution was allowed to go forward without a deep examination of Walter’s innocence. We ask that you keep Walter and his loved ones in your thoughts tonight — you can read more about his case here, and if you are willing, please help spread the word about the injustice that just occurred in Missouri. Tonight is a painful reminder of why we do this work. Thank you for your dedication to fighting for the innocent." The entire release can be read at: https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#inbox/FMfcgxwHNVvvDHdHlBFsswjxJjrtLmhT

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; ----------------------------------------------------------------- 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; ------------------------------------------------------------------