Saturday, September 1, 2012

Amina Chaudhary; Ontario; Smith case; Released to halfway house; Protests innocence 30 years later; Seeks law preserving evidence; CP.


STORY: "Woman convicted of killing boy granted day parole in Hamilton," published by CP on August 30, 2012.

GIST: An Ontario woman who started a family with another inmate while serving a life sentence for killing an eight-year-old boy will get a second chance at building a life outside prison. Amina Chaudhary, 51, gasped and shook with relief Wednesday when members of the Parole Board of Canada handed down their decision to release her to a halfway house in Hamilton.........In a recent twist, the case spawned a campaign for the preservation of evidence after photo exhibits that Chaudhary's supporters believe might help prove her innocence seemed to vanish. "The best recourse she had for vindication has pretty much been taken away," said Alan Young, a lawyer and professor at York University's Osgoode Hall Law School. The school's chapter of the Innocence Project took Chaudhary as its first case and has since referenced her situation in an application that would force law enforcement to keep exhibits in murder cases unless the inmate gives permission to destroy them. Thirty years later, Chaudhary steadfastly proclaimed her innocence to the parole board when questioned about the killing. But though she hinted to knowing who killed Gupta, she declined to point fingers in light of her legal challenge. "I know for a fact it's not me," she said Wednesday.""The entire story can be found at:

http://www.cbc.ca/hamilton/news/story/2012/08/30/hamilton-chaudhary-parole.html

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.