PASSAGE OF THE DAY: "On Friday afternoon, Alison Dorsey took the stand. Dorsey began her private daycare service in 2002, stating she had done a lot of babysitting, and loved kids, so she opened her private daycare in Massena. She stated most of the children came from families in Massena and some from neighboring Anita. Over the years, Dorsey says she has taken care of around 120 children, many of whom come back to visit with her to this day."
STORY: "Day Four of Testimony in State vs. Alison Dorsey Trial: Pathologist and Alison Dorsey Testify," by Reporter Tom Robinson, published by Western Iowa Today (KSOM), on May 6, 2023.
GIST: “Courtroom D at the Pottawattamie County Courthouse was again packed full of people for the fourth day of testimony in the State vs. Alison Dorsey Trial. Dorsey is on trial for the death of Luka Hodges while at her daycare on October 7, 2019.
The trial is being heard for a second time because of a mistrial (deadlocked jury) in the fall of 2021. The case was moved to Pottawattamie County on a request for a change of venue due to the case’s publicity.
The defense called Pathologist Dr. Douglas Smith, who testified for three hours via Zoom on Friday morning.
He is involved in the scientific studies of anatomic diagnostic interpretation of autopsies and Biopsies. He also reviewed Luka’s case. He noted the unusual length of time it took to administer CPR.
Based on his studies of iron staining in the brain method and his expert opinion, Dr. Smith stated Luka’s subdural hematoma occurred before October 7.
During cross-examination, Prosecutor Monty Platz questioned why the National Association of Medical Examiners, the central organization for medical examiners in the United States, does not endorse his scientific methods.
Dr. Smith replied Iron Stains had been used for over 100 years.
On Friday afternoon, Alison Dorsey took the stand. Dorsey began her private daycare service in 2002, stating she had done a lot of babysitting, and loved kids, so she opened her private daycare in Massena.
She stated most of the children came from families in Massena and some from neighboring Anita. Over the years, Dorsey says she has taken care of around 120 children, many of whom come back to visit with her to this day.
Dorsey stated that on the morning of October 7, ten children were at the daycare, seven over the age of one. Luka, his twin, and older brother Carver arrived at the daycare. Dorsey was getting the preschoolers on the bus, and one of the parents showed up with their child, stayed, and visited for a short time.
Dorsey says the rest of the morning was spent changing diapers, playing with the children on the floor, took a photograph of the children, including a Snapchat of the two twins. Dorsey also took three phone calls that morning and tried to feed Luka again after 10:30 a.m.
Dorsey called Luka’s mother, Kaitlin, who worked in Anita. Kaitlin stated she would wrap things and head to the Daycare. Then Dorsey called Luka’s father, Nick, who worked a few blocks away. Nick arrived a couple of minutes later.
Defense Attorney Mark Edward Munger asked Alison whether she had to call 9-1-1 from 2002-2019. Her answer was no.
During cross-examination, Prosecuting Attorney Monty Platz asked Dorsey when she first noticed Luka’s abnormal breathing and asked why she didn’t immediately call for an ambulance.
Testimony is scheduled to begin on Monday at 9:00 a.m."
The entire story can be read at:
https://westerniowatoday.com/2023/05/06/day-four-testimony-in-state-vs-alison-dorsey-trial/
PUBLISHER'S NOTE: I am monitoring this case/issue/resource. 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;
SEE BREAKDOWN OF SOME OF THE ON-GOING INTERNATIONAL CASES (OUTSIDE OF THE CONTINENTAL USA) THAT I AM FOLLOWING ON THIS BLOG, AT THE LINK BELOW: HL:
https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/120008354894645705/4704913685758792985
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;
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YET ANOTHER FINAL WORD:
David Hammond, one of Broadwater’s attorneys who sought his exoneration, told the Syracuse Post-Standard, “Sprinkle some junk science onto a faulty identification, and it’s the perfect recipe for a wrongful conviction.”
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