| NO PARDON FOR SYLVESTER SMITH I met Ann Ogundeji in the Brunswick County Courthouse, just prior to her daughter taking the stand in order to recant the testimony she gave when she was 4 years old in order to free Sylvester Smith, the man she accused of molesting her and her cousin twenty years prior. I heard Ms. Ogundeji tell me that her daughter was about to lie in court, for money. I met with Ms. Ogundeji several times after that and each time met others that would back up her claim that her daughter lied on the stand. I also heard recorded phone conversations between Ms. Ogundeji and her daughter, read a letter of strong denial written by the man the daughter now claims was the real perpetrator, and I also investigated claims that the daughter was living in a house provided rent-free by Sylvester Smith's sister. In order follow up on your August 7, 2005 story regarding the question of a pardon for Sylvester Smith, I would suggest contacting the Social Workers who sit and listen to children tell their sad story of abuse to see how likely it is for a 4 year old to make up a story such as the one Ms. Ogundeji's daughter told twenty years ago. Also I would talk with victims advocates and prosecutors, such as Mary Easley and State Court of Appeals Judge Wanda Bryant who heard and believed the story of Ann Ogundeji's 4 year old daughter. I would certainly look at the physical evidence taken at the New Hanover Regional Memorial Hospital's emergency room the night Ms. Ogundeji brought her wounded daughter in for treatment. Governor Mike Easley did all of the above prior to prosecuting Sylvester Smith. There were 12 people on a jury that also heard all the testimony and evidence and they were unanimous in their decision to convict Sylvester Smith of one of our society's most horrible crimes. Let us hope that the voices of the scores of other child victims, the ones with similar stories of abuse, will not be overshadowed by the perverted justice that freed child molester Sylvester Smith. Let us hope that the Governor will stand tall on this one and refuse to grant Sylvester Smith the pardon. |
