PASSAGE OF THE DAY: "The Innocence Project which represented Howard says he is the fourth Mississippian tried and convicted for capital murder based on the forensic work and testimony of Dr. Steven Hayne and Dr. Michael West. Hayne was fired by the state in 2008. West was known for his technique to identify bite marks that has now been rejected by the forensics community, according to the Innocence Project. Kennedy Brewer who was sentenced to death and Levon Brooks who was sentenced to life had spent over three decades in prison before they were cleared in two separate rape and child murder cases in Noxubee County."
STORY: "Mississippi Supreme Court vacates conviction and sentence of Eddie Lee Howard," by reporter Maggie Wade, published by WLBT on August 27, 2020.
A Mississippi man who has served almost 30 years in prison, much of it on death row, will get a new trial.
The Mississippi Supreme Court vacated the conviction and sentence for Eddie Lee Howard. Howard was convicted for the rape and murder of an 84-year-old woman in Lowndes County in 1994.
Howard has been granted a new trial due to what justices specifically point to in the ruling as the discredited findings of Dr. Michael West regarding bite marks. They also point to the newly discovered presence of another man’s DNA on the murder weapon.
The Innocence Project which represented Howard says he is the fourth Mississippian tried and convicted for capital murder based on the forensic work and testimony of Dr. Steven Hayne and Dr. Michael West.
Hayne was fired by the state in 2008. West was known for his technique to identify bite marks that has now been rejected by the forensics community, according to the Innocence Project.
Kennedy Brewer who was sentenced to death and Levon Brooks who was sentenced to life had spent over three decades in prison before they were cleared in two separate rape and child murder cases in Noxubee County.
Howard’s attorneys say his conviction has been reversed twice by the State Supreme Court."
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Read the court's decision at the link below. Thanks to Dr. Michael Bower's publisher of the pre-eminent 'Forensics and Law in Focus' Blog. The post is headed 'Forensics: Another bitemarker conviction gets vacated, and bearing the caption: "This case from MS has taken over 25 to litigate for Eddie Lee Howard. Read about the famous film flam artist Dr. Michael West - talks about his own brilliance - kudos to all."
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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; -----------------------------------------------------------------
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;
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