Canadian Judge Castigates Pathologist; Money Pledged to Wrongfully Convicted
Officials in Ontario, Canada, promised compensation to wrongfully convicted criminal defendants today after a judge commissioned by the government to investigate a pediatric pathologist castigated Dr. Charles Smith in a written report.
Despite being proclaimed as a leading expert, Smith actually knew little, had sloppy work practices and rarely visited crime scenes, writes Justice Stephen Goudge. He also criticized Ontario’s former chief coroner, James Young, and his deputy, Jim Cairns, for their ”blind confidence” in the pathologist, reports the Associated Press.
Ontario Attorney General Chris Bentley apologized to those who have suffered injustices as a result of Smith’s work, and promised to review all of the cases in which he was involved between 1981 and 2002.
Smith himself testified before Goudge that his training was “woefully inadequate,” but he said his mistakes were honest ones, the AP article continues:
”Dr. Smith was adamant that his failings were never intentional,” writes Goudge. ”I simply cannot accept such a sweeping attempt to escape moral responsibility.”
Additional details and a copy of the report are provided on a website concerning the inquiry by Goudge.
