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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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PASSAGE OF THE DAY: "
Pervis Payne, a death row inmate who is set for execution in December, is heading back to a Shelby County courtroom in hopes it will lead to his freedom. A jury convicted Payne for the murders of 28-year-old Charisse Christopher and her 2-year-old daughter, Lacie, in their Millington apartment in 1987. Christopher’s 3-year-old son, Nicholas, was critically injured but survived the brutal stabbings. Payne continued to maintain his innocence. Now his family is speaking out, saying they just want his story to be heard. Rolanda Holman, Payne’s sister, said they have been waiting 33 years for the truth. “We have been just waiting for some type of breakthrough for his story to be heard and for the truth to finally be revealed,” Holman said. Three decades later, Payne’s court appearance will be centered around DNA evidence. Technology like testing DNA was just becoming a trend, during the time he was convicted. His sister said Payne has been on death row for more than 30 years and hopes her brother’s truth is heard. She said it was not heard some years ago. “My brother told his truth,” Holman said. “And his truth was manipulated, twisted, and turned to be pinned against him during his case. It was only circumstantial evidence, so he didn’t have a motive. He didn’t know the victims.” Pervis wants DNA testing of evidence in the case." -------------------------------------------------------------------
STORY: "Pervis Payne family hopes DNA will provide truth in murder mystery," by Reporter Stephanie Scurlock, published by Channel News 3, WREG Memphis, on August 26, 2020.
SUB-HEADING: "Hearing will be held next week by death row inmate Pervis Payne."
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Pervis Payne, a death row inmate who is set for execution in December, is heading back to a Shelby County courtroom in hopes it will lead to his freedom.
A jury convicted Payne for the murders of 28-year-old Charisse Christopher and her 2-year-old daughter, Lacie, in their Millington apartment in 1987. Christopher’s 3-year-old son, Nicholas, was critically injured but survived the brutal stabbings.
Payne continued to maintain his innocence. Now his family is speaking out, saying they just want his story to be heard. Rolanda Holman, Payne’s sister, said they have been waiting 33 years for the truth.
“We have been just waiting for some type of breakthrough for his story to be heard and for the truth to finally be revealed,” Holman said.
Three decades later, Payne’s court appearance will be centered around DNA evidence. Technology like testing DNA was just becoming a trend, during the time he was convicted. His sister said Payne has been on death row for more than 30 years and hopes her brother’s truth is heard. She said it was not heard some years ago.
“My brother told his truth,” Holman said. “And his truth was manipulated, twisted, and turned to be pinned against him during his case. It was only circumstantial evidence, so he didn’t have a motive. He didn’t know the victims.”
Pervis wants DNA testing of evidence in the case. Recently, District Attorney Amy Weirich said bloody bedding his defense lawyers claim was new evidence wasn’t actually new at all. It was from another case and was a mix-up by the property room attendant.
That does not sit well with Holman. She said she does not understand how someone can present evidence that is not from case.
“That’s a problem within itself when you are able to give the wrong evidence to someone for their case. That should be a major violation of protocol,” Holman said.
Payne’s lawyers plan to ask a Memphis judge for testing on other evidence. They say no doubt comes from his case.
On the other hand, the mother of Charisse Christopher is convinced that Payne is guilty and said it is time for him to pay for what he did some three decades ago.
“It’s been 33 years, and I think that’s been long enough,” her mother said.
Payne’s family contends the prosecution manipulated both families, and they are fighting for the victims as well. They say everyone deserves to know the truth."
The entire story can be read at:
https://wreg.com/news/pervis-payne-family-hopes-dna-will-provide-truth-in-murder-mystery/
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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