Sunday, October 8, 2017

William Amor: Arson 'science.' Bulletin: Amor trial date set after likely coerced confession The Patch reports...Confession didn't hold up, so the judge vacated it....Reporter Catlin Ketel: The Patch; September 29, 2017..."The original charges were vacated earlier this year because of evidence from new fire science. Amor, now in his early 60s, was set free on a $100,000 bail in May of 2017. The Illinois Innocence Project believes Amor was wrongfully convicted. According to the IIP, the original investigation relied upon many of the now debunked myths of arson investigations. During a May hearing, three fire experts testified that Amor couldn’t have started a blaze by knocking a lit cigarette onto newspapers soaked in vodka. That was Amor’s original confession, which his lawyers believe had been coerced."





"A new trial date has been set for William Amor, who spent nearly two decades behind bars for the 1995 arson murder of his mother-in-law. DuPage County Judge Liam Brennan set the date for Jan. 23, 2018, the Daily Herald reports. The original charges were vacated earlier this year because of evidence from new fire science. Amor, now in his early 60s, was set free on a $100,000 bail in May of 2017. The Illinois Innocence Project believes Amor was wrongfully convicted. According to the IIP, the original investigation relied upon many of the now debunked myths of arson investigations. During a May hearing, three fire experts testified that Amor couldn’t have started a blaze by knocking a lit cigarette onto newspapers soaked in vodka. That was Amor’s original confession, which his lawyers believe had been coerced. The Herald also reports that Judge Brennan ruled that Amor can be subject to consecutive sentencing on the original murder and arson charges. Amor was just over a year short of fulfilling his 20-year sentence."
https://patch.com/illinois/aurora/amor-trail-date-set-after-likely-coerced-confession

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.