Wednesday, September 1, 2021

Brian Peixoto: Massachusetts: Significant Development: More than 25 years already served - he is officially back in court where he will have the opportunity to raise the "new science" including changes in biomechanics of pediatric head trauma...What is truly remarkable is that so far we have had the cooperation of the DA’s office as there has been no opposition to the motions filed. We are hopeful that this is a strong indication that everyone is finally ready to learn what actually happened and why Brian is factually innocent. We look forward to a continued, cooperative effort in pursuit of the truth." Lisa Munger. Wrongful Conviction News.


BACKGROUND:  (From Support Website -  (link below): "Brian also has the support of the CPCS Innocence Program – a Massachusetts program funded by the U.S. Department of Justice to represent innocent people. Collaboration efforts have also been offered by the New England Innocence Project NEIP ; top wrongful conviction attorney specializing in SBS/AHT (Shaken Baby Syndrome' - Abusice Head Trauma) cases; Heather Kirkwood; and SBS litigation fellow, Kate Judson , of the Wisconsin Innocence Project. Nationally and internationally recognized medical experts, well respected in the evolving field of misdiagnosed child abuse and head trauma have conducted independent, unbiased reviews of the available medical and court records. According to these prominent medical professionals, the state’s Medical Examiner got it wrong and that to a degree of medical certainty the child sustained a skull fracture and other injuries in a stairway fall, ten days before his death – a fall that happened when Brian was not present and the child was in the sole care of his mother. Further, doctors who re-examined all of the available medical evidence in this case agree that Christopher did not die from the skull fracture or a brain injury as was alleged by the Bristol County prosecutor and the state’s paid experts. It is now provable that the child died as a result of a condition that was ignored by the prosecution and state’s experts, but was evident in the medical records all along. Brian was collateral damage in the wake of the media frenzy around a highly publicized and prejudicial, emotionally charged case. A month before the trial in 1997, the nation was tuned in to the case of Louise Woodward (the “British Nanny”) based here in MA and less than a short drive from Brian’s trial. Since then there have been many questions raised in the pediatric forensic community regarding the validity of the science used in SBS/AHT cases. Widely accepted beliefs in the field of pediatric head trauma were rejected and dismissed as unreliable.  The new science, including rocked the forensic community, shedding light on many mistaken diagnoses, including that from Brian’s case. It became evident that parents and caregivers were being wrongly accused of child abuse.http://brianpeixoto.com

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PASSAGE OF THE DAY: "In 1996, Brian was arrested and charged with murdering his then-girlfriend’s three-year-old son. From the very first police interrogation to this day, Brian has told only one version of events. Medical experts will attest that to a degree of medical certainty, Brian’s consistent accounting is the only one that makes sense based on the actual medical evidence. He would be the first to tell you that he is a realist. To hear him after a call with his legal team you would understand just how real the expectation is that his conviction will be overturned."

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PASSAGE TWO OF THE DAY: Our website includes the basic facts and court history of this case. Pages detail our long and arduous fight to prove Brian’s innocence. It will be updated with shocking and indisputable evidence of Brian’s innocence. We wholeheartedly believe that if the jury had all of the information we are about to present to the court that they would most likely have found Brian not guilty. Although we cannot get into specifics about the medical evidence or experts at this time, rest assured, you won’t need a medical degree to understand exactly what happened. We have been incredibly fortunate with support from medical and legal experts and those with this unfortunate commonality.  This legal team is very hard at work drafting the Motion for New Trial. You are hearing this first here, on an Injustice Anywhere platform where these efforts began years ago."

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POST: "Brian Peixoto case update: Back in court," written by Lisa Munger M.Ed, Advocate, published by Wrongful Conviction News, an 'Injustice Anywhere; website, on August 27, 2021.

GIST: "Friends and supporters, we are thrilled to inform you all that we are officially back in court!  What is truly remarkable is that so far we have had the cooperation of the DA’s office as there has been no opposition to the motions filed. We are hopeful that this is a strong indication that everyone is finally ready to learn what actually happened and why Brian is factually innocent. We look forward to a continued, cooperative effort in pursuit of the truth.

Brian’s legal team has been incredibly busy building the foundation for a Motion for New Trial. In July, a Motion to Compel, Search for and Provide Access to and Copies of Trial Exhibits was filed in Bristol Superior Court. Not only was there no opposition to the motion, but the DA made arrangements with one of Brian’s attorneys, Jack Cunha to turn over evidence.

Although the second pleading, a Motion for Access to Forensic Evidence was also not opposed by the DA, Brian’s legal team was before the court earlier this month to present the motion. As you can imagine, it was incredibly validating to hear the judge order the evidence to be turned over to the defense.

We are hoping this collaboration will continue as we progress, steadfast through the process.

This past January, Brian marked 25 years of incarceration for a crime he most assuredly did not commit. Brian is only looking ahead. His daughter, Amber was just 4 years old when he was taken from her life. Amber’s son, Anthony Brian will turn 4 later this year. He is hopeful that he will be home in time to pick up life with his grandson where he left off with his daughter.

In 1996, Brian was arrested and charged with murdering his then-girlfriend’s three-year-old son. From the very first police interrogation to this day, Brian has told only one version of events. Medical experts will attest that to a degree of medical certainty, Brian’s consistent accounting is the only one that makes sense based on the actual medical evidence. He would be the first to tell you that he is a realist. To hear him after a call with his legal team you would understand just how real the expectation is that his conviction will be overturned.

Brian is sponsored by the CPCS Innocence Program.  Director Lisa Kavanaugh has taken an active role to ensure that these post-conviction efforts proceed efficiently and effectively.  Nicole Collins, a legal fellow with CPCS has facilitated an in-depth review of all aspects of this case. Top Boston criminal defense attorney Jack Cunha is ready to lead this team into the courtroom. Former RI public defender and Injustice Anywhere board member, Jennifer Fitzgerald, has led the discovery of what will undoubtedly be specifically what will overturn Brian’s conviction. For years she has educated herself on complex medical issues and has relentlessly asked the questions and pursued every path. Private investigator John Nardizzi was the catalyst in pulling together this legal team.  He is the founding member of this team.

Our website includes the basic facts and court history of this case. Pages detail our long and arduous fight to prove Brian’s innocence. It will be updated with shocking and indisputable evidence of Brian’s innocence. We wholeheartedly believe that if the jury had all of the information we are about to present to the court that they would most likely have found Brian not guilty. Although we cannot get into specifics about the medical evidence or experts at this time, rest assured, you won’t need a medical degree to understand exactly what happened.

We have been incredibly fortunate with support from medical and legal experts and those with this unfortunate commonality.  This legal team is very hard at work drafting the Motion for New Trial. You are hearing this first here, on an Injustice Anywhere platform where these efforts began years ago.

Be sure to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter where we will be sure to keep you posted on our legal efforts as we are most definitively #onedaycloser.

The entire post can be read at: 

http://www.wrongfulconvictionnews.net/brian-peixoto-case-update-back-in-court/

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;
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FINAL, FINAL WORD: "Since its inception, the Innocence Project has pushed the criminal legal system to confront and correct the laws and policies that cause and contribute to wrongful convictions.   They never shied away from the hard cases — the ones involving eyewitness identifications, confessions, and bite marks. Instead, in the course of presenting scientific evidence of innocence, they’ve exposed the unreliability of evidence that was, for centuries, deemed untouchable." So true!
Christina Swarns: Executive Director: The Innocence Project;