For this Sum it Up, I, have done a lot of listening. I listened to family members who desperately wish to have answers. I “listened” to case files in hopes that I would catch what they were trying to tell me, and I listened to new proposals for collaborations.
When I made my round around the blawgs, it was clear that everyone was listening or, is asking you to please listen.
Baby Barista and TheBusker will need to find a way to get PipSqueak to listen to them and most importantly, to herself. Paul Cutler is listening to the interpretation of sports. Rebel Morris over at Can You Identify Me? is asking you to listen to the story of Saltair Sally in hopes to find her true identity. Markus Schantz explores being a heart surgeon versus being a lawyer.
Scott Dickson likes you to listen to stories of terrorism. Jeff Gamso points you to more and more voices speaking out against capital punishment and hopes that more people will listen.
I read what Norm Pattis described as “Tap dancing at the gates of Hell.” I quote: “Hell froze over one day last year and two men skated to freedom, set free by a judge of the Superior Court, who found that they were convicted in error and were the victims of manifest injustice. Last week, the state’s lawyers appeared before the State Supreme Court and urged the court to send the men back to prison. The state looked like the Devil on ice skates, all movement, fuss and rage, but unable to keep its balance.”
It is the story of Ronald Taylor and George Gould who were set free after a habeas corpus hearing. The two men were imprisoned for a crime that the state could not prove. When you read this, listen to your brain. It will be cracking while it ponders the question whether exonorated prisoners must also prove beyond reasonable doubt that they are innocent of a crime the state could not prove in the first place.
The Bizzle’s last post is one I wholeheartedly support: coffee matters! So listen and learn new candidates! “Without it I’m like Harry Potter without his wand, like Wonder Woman without her cape – just a civilian with no special powers. With it I’m a super-charged hot-shot deal-making legal wonder with an attitude problem.” I hear you and agree *raises coffee mug to screen and toasts the Bizzle!*
This week, I had two great discussions that will lead to new collaborations for Defrosting Cold Cases. One collaboration has successfully started. Penn State’s Forensic Science Program students have started their Spring semester and they have exclusive access to the William Thomas Zeigler case files. The Zeigler legal defense team has made materials available to these students. They will be able to put their knowledge to the test! I am looking forward to hearing what the students have to say. You will also be able to read that since it will be posted here on DCC. Stay tuned for those updates as well.
There is much renewed interest in the cases of Moira Holly Branagan and Sharron Prior. I know I mentioned it before but just check the comment section: it is exploding!
Enjoy, until the next Sum it Up!
