Saturday, October 28, 2023

Iwao Hakamada: Japan: (Blood-stained clothing planted by the police?) Major (Welcome) Development: As the former professional boxer's retrial on 1966 murders begins, his sister claims that he is innocent, 'Mainichi' reports…"A former professional boxer and death-row inmate accused of a 1966 quadruple murder in central Japan is innocent, his elderly sister said Friday, in the first hearing of his retrial that is likely to lead to his exoneration. Iwao Hakamada, 87, was exempted from attending the retrial at the Shizuoka District Court, as his mental state has deteriorated after spending nearly half a century behind bars before new evidence led to his release in 2014. "I will plead my brother's innocence for him. Please grant Iwao true freedom," 90-year-old Hideko said, appearing at the trial in his place. Prosecutors say Hakamada is guilty, arguing in their opening statement that it was possible for him to have committed the crime at the miso shop where he was working as a live-in employee, as the suspect was likely to be someone related to the company."

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PASSAGE OF THE DAY:  " It is likely that Hakamada will be acquitted, as the criminal procedure law says that a retrial will be opened i...

Tasha Selby: Mississippi: (Shaken Baby Syndrome): Convicted over 20 years ago for the death of her former-fiance’s son, her case could be reexamined through a conviction integrity unit proposed by a Democratic Attorney General candidate - but Mississippi today (Reporter Mina Corpuz) reports that Tasha Selby has few hopes for freedom in this shaken bay death conviction…"Shelby’s attorney, family members and supporters believe she is innocent because of the toddler’s family history of seizures and evolving science behind “Shaken Baby Syndrome.” They see a conviction integrity unit as one of the last options they could use to free Shelby. “We’ve been fighting for Tasha for 26 years,” said Shelby’s aunt Penny Warner at a Tuesday press conference with Kemp Martin. Last week a panel of the state Supreme Court denied her request for a new trial. That leaves Shelby with few options such as asking the attorney general to dismiss her charge or requesting a pardon from the governor’s office, which the supporters have done. Kemp Martin, who met and talked with Shelby last week, said her proposed conviction integrity unit could help her and others across the state. She said the unit would look at cases of innocence, wrongful conviction, prosecutorial misconduct and evidence. “Her fate is sealed unless someone steps in to intervene,” Kemp Martin said."

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PASSAGE OF THE DAY: " A seizure or shaken baby syndrome?  On the early morning of May 30, 1997, 22-year-old Shelby heard a thump and fo...
Friday, October 27, 2023

Phillip Hancock; Death Row: Oklahoma: (Execution set for November 30): Prosecutors refusal to test DNA Evidence has forced him to file a federal lawsuit, the Death Penalty Information Center reports…"On October 4, 2023, Phillip Hancock, an Oklahoma death-sentenced prisoner scheduled for execution on November 30, filed a Section 1983 lawsuit in federal court requesting the release of physical evidence for DNA testing to support his long-maintained claim of self-defense. The State has repeatedly opposed his efforts to test the evidence and Oklahoma state courts have also repeatedly denied his requests. “Biological evidence in the State’s custody would corroborate Hancock’s account while refuting the State’s theory of the case. But that evidence has never been tested. How can Oklahoma execute Phil without letting us test this evidence that could prove it happened just the way he has always said?” said Shawn Nolan, one of Mr. Hancock’s attorneys."

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PUBLISHER'S  NOTE:  WORDS TO HEED: FROM OUR POST ON KEVIN COOPER'S  APPLICATION FOR POST-CONVICTION DNA TESTING; CALIFORNIA: (Applic...
Thursday, October 26, 2023

The Maya Kowalski Family: (Take Care of Maya' trial): Florida: Child Protection team head Dr. Sally Smith testifies for the defence in $220 million, Fox 13 News Staff reports…"On cross-examination, Dr. Smith noted she resigned from the Child Protection Team in July 2022. She also told jurors that she did ask that Maya be taken off all of her medications, so she could see what happened as part of her investigation. She also added that the treatment team was already weaning her off the medications. This was the second time the jury heard from Dr. Smith. During the plaintiff's presentation, a video deposition of Dr. Smith was played in the courtroom. In it she stated that she knew that four other physicians had diagnosed Maya with CRPS. (Complex Regional Pain Syndrome); She said she believed Maya’s mother, Beata Kowalski, was committing medical child abuse though she admitted that she had never testified in a case involving CRPS in the past. "Upon review of all the extensive medical records, observations of the child in the hospital, review of the unconventional treatments including hyperbaric oxygen treatment and high dose ketamine treatment repeatedly. It was my opinion that there was ample evidence of medical child abuse and it appeared Mrs. Kowalski was the primary one who was resulting in instigating or perpetrating child abuse," Dr.Smith stated. Dr. Smith also said she recalled that Dr. Anthony Kirkpatrick, who diagnosed Maya with CRPS and recommended ketamine treatment, advised her not to move forward with allegations that Beata Kowalski was suffering from Munchausen by proxy. The Kowlaski family reportedly settled their dispute with Dr. Smith and the DCF Suncoast Center."

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STORY: 'Take Care of Maya' trial: Dr. Sally Smith testifies for the defense in $220M case,' by FOX 13 News Staff, published on O...