PASSAGE OF THE DAY: "Leonard renewed the defense position that all the new evidence in the case must be heard and not separated piecemeal for an evidentiary hearing. The defense lawyer called the state’s claim that Nowlin’s DNA would likely be on the bed “wholly false.” McNeil told police he had had the sheets laundered before his daughter’s arrival and that he and Nowlin had last had sex a week earlier had her apartment."
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STORY: "Lawyers argue merits of Bart McNeil's innocence petition," by crime and legal issues Reporter Edith Brady-Lunny, published by WGLT.org on May 12, 2022.
GIST: "Lawyers for Bart McNeil asked a judge on Thursday to approve a full evidentiary hearing on McNeil’s innocence claim in the death of his 3-year-old daughter.
McNeil was convicted in 1999 of suffocating Christina McNeil during her overnight stay at his Bloomington apartment. In his statements to police shortly after the child’s death, McNeil pointed to his former girlfriend Misook Nowlin as a possible suspect. Police arrested McNeil, theorizing that he may have sexually abused the girl before her death. He is serving a life sentence. His story was the subject of WGLT's 2018 podcast series Suspect Convictions.
After hearing arguments from McNeil’s legal team and prosecutor Mary Koll, Judge William Yoder took the case under advisement, promising a ruling within 60 days.
A large group of McNeil supporters filled the courtroom to hear arguments by defense lawyer Karl Leonard with the Exoneration Project. The defendant waved to the audience and thanked them for coming before he was returned to prison in Pinckneyville.
Leonard renewed the defense position that all the new evidence in the case must be heard and not separated piecemeal for an evidentiary hearing.
The defense lawyer called the state’s claim that Nowlin’s DNA would likely be on the bed “wholly false.” McNeil told police he had had the sheets laundered before his daughter’s arrival and that he and Nowlin had last had sex a week earlier had her apartment.
After the hearing, McNeil’s cousin Chris Ross told reporters, “it’s critically important you see all the evidence. There’s no shadow of a doubt he’s innocent.”
Ross, who traveled from California for the hearing, said he stays in close contact with McNeil. McNeil and his supporters have confidence in the defense team, he said."
The entire story can be read at:
https://www.wglt.org/local-news/2022-05-12/lawyers-argue-merits-of-bart-mcneils-innocence-petition
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;
