WORDS TO HEED: FROM OUR POST ON KEVIN COOPER'S APPLICATION FOR POST-CONVICTION DNA TESTING; CALIFORNIA: (Applicable wherever a state resists DNA testing): "Blogger/extraordinaire Jeff Gamso's blunt, unequivocal, unforgettable message to the powers that be in California: "JUST TEST THE FUCKING DNA." (Oh yes, Gamso raises, as he does in many of his posts, an important philosophical question: This post is headed: "What is truth, said jesting Pilate."...Says Gamso: "So what's the harm? What, exactly, are they scared of? Don't we want the truth?"
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PUBLISHER'S NOTE: Time is inexorably running out for Pervis Payne, scheduled to be executed by the State of Tennessee on December 3, 2020 - most likely without providing the DNAS testing which his lawyer say may prove they will be killing an innocent man. Pervis Payne's name can be found in a recent issue of a Canadian publication - The Simcoe Reformer - in an article by Reporter Brad Hunter published on August 22, 2020, under the heading, ''More convicted killers slated to die in U.S. death chambers. Hunter is largely unsparing of the 'convicted killers' on the list. But when he comes to Pervis Payne his tone changes dramatically as he writes around a tag 'Pervis Payne: The wrong man?"..."Tennessee could quite possibly be putting an innocent man to death. After more than 30 years on death row, Payne has never wavered from his declaration of innocence. He had no criminal record and was living with an intellectual disability. With the clock ticking, the Shelby County District Attorney Amy Weirich said on July 30 that her office is opposed to the DNA testing of evidence. How come? In June 1987, Payne was waiting for his girlfriend to return to her apartment. He discovered that neighbour Charisse Christopher, 28, and her children had been brutally attacked. Christopher and her toddler daughter were stabbed to death. Payne was mortified.The Innocence Project has taken up his cause." I doubt if Tennessee's Governor Bill Lee reads the Simcoe Reformer - obviously a highly principled publication. But I wish he would. Pervis Payne's case cries out for testing. To execute him without it is sheer barbarism - a terrible reflection against Tennessee and its government. I send a 'bravo' to Reporter Brad Hunter, and am emailing a copy of his story to the Governor. (With a copy of this post!)
Harold Levy: Publisher; The Charles Smith Blog.
The entire story can be read at:
https://www.simcoereformer.ca/news/world/crime-hunter-more-convicted-killers-slated-to-die-in-u-s-death-chambers/wcm/ee4e7a17-370f-4cdf-a143-aaa9b260359a
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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