Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Li Ying: Important New York Times story; Shaken baby case; After four years in jail she is released on bail pending her trial.


STORY: "After 4, years, woman accused in baby's death exits jail," by reporters Jeffrey E. Singer and Corey Kilgannon, published in the New York Times on March 30, 2012.

GIST: A Rikers Island correction officer looked confused on Wednesday morning when a group of Chinese immigrants - trailed by a crush of reporters from local Chinese news outlets - arrived to pick up an inmate who had been in the jail for four years. 'Four years, really?'' the guard said, leaning back and wiping his hand over his face skeptically, perhaps because Rikers Island is primarily intended for short stays, with most inmates typically staying no more than three months. But Li Ying, 26, a Chinese immigrant who is charged in connection with the shaken baby death of her daughter Annie, has remained in the jail since her arrest in March 2008. She is awaiting trial along with her common-law husband and Annie's father, Li Hangbin, 27, who is also charged in the case. It was the subject of an article in The New York Times in January. Ms. Li was released on bail from Rikers Island on Wednesday, after a Queens judge reduced her bail on Tuesday from $250,000 to a $10,000 bond. The Lis are to be tried together in Queens, but a date has not been set. Prosecutors say Mr. Li inflicted horrific injuries upon Annie on Oct. 22, 2007. He is charged with second-degree murder, and if convicted, faces 25 years to life in prison. He remains in jail.........According to the charges, Annie most likely died from the trauma of shaken-baby syndrome, which occurs when a baby is repeatedly and violently shaken, causing brain damage. Her injuries included a massive skull fracture from two ''non-accidental'' blows that also caused brain damage, hemorrhaging and eye injuries, as well as two broken legs and a fractured rib that had not fully healed, according to prosecutors. The Lis' lawyers argue that Annie's autopsy showed no fractures to Annie's spinal cord and neck, and they say they hope to prove that the child suffered from osteoporosis imperfecta, a condition that can cause weak bones."

THE ENTIRE STORY CAN BE FOUND AT:

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B07E1D81F3CF933A05750C0A9649D8B63

PUBLISHER'S NOTE:

I am monitoring this case. 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.