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1.	Who are you completing your case study on? 
   I am completing my case on Maria Shepherd

 2. Briefly summarize and explain the situation of your selected wrongly 
convicted person.

Maris Shepherd who was 21-years-old had two children and was charged with “murdering” her third child. Who was thee-and-a-half-years-old who happened to be her step-daughter, on April 24 1991.

According to Doctor Charles Smith who was a paediatric forensic pathologist at the time working for Toronto’s Hospital for Sick Children. Dr. Smith said the cause of her death was abuse, which involved blows to her head, that left a “watch-shaped mark under her scalp”.

3. Using the list from Innocence Canada surrounding causes, identify and 
explain which and how the causes contributed to the wrongful conviction in 
your case.

A doctor accused her of murder when she never did anything. Her step daughter passed of natural causes.

4. Was the wrongly convicted person awarded compensation for their situation? 
If so, how much?

I am not 100% sure, but her name was cleared after 25 years of battling

5. In your opinion, should a wrongly convicted person be awarded compensation
and comment on what you would determine is a satisfactory award (if any).

Yes they should. If you’re wrongfully convicted of a crime you did not do, you deserve to be awarded with the most

6.What did you learn about the topic that surprised you?

How long it took. 25 years is over a decade. Its insane. So hard to believe that it took that long.

7.What are you most likely to remember from this research?

How a doctor said she killed her step daughter when she never did. The doctor was looking for trouble and should not be an actual doctor

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In this image she is with her i presume husband. After winning a battle of 25 years.

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funeral homes queen mary fond du lac 13th birthday sheppard funeral cremation glasgow massage therapist mary university argus

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In this famous photo in the background as you can see it says "wrongful convictions" because she was wrongfully convicted of a crime she didn't commit. Her daughter passed due to natural causes and a DOCTOR accused her.

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In 1991 Maria Shepard was wrongfully convicted of manslaughter for killing her three-year-old stepdaughter. She spent 25 years fighting to exonerate herself. In April 1991 Maria's step-daughter, Kasandra, who had been ill for a long period of time, had begun vomiting and became unresponsive as she passed into a come . She was admitted to hospital where died two days later. Dr. Charles Smith was then the paediatric pathologist at Sick Children's Hospital. He conducted Kasandra's autopsy and told the police that Kasandra had died as a result of abuse, involving a blow or blows to the head. Maria was on of many victims of now disgraced pathologist Charles Smith. Smith gained notoriety for his misleading expert medical findings, that lead to multiple wrongful convictions before his findings were revealed to be significantly flawed.

On April 24, 1991, Maria Shepherd, 21 years old, was charged with manslaughter in Kasandra's death. At Maria's trial Smith concluded that Kasandra had died from trauma due to at least one blow of "significant force. As well during the investigation Maria had told police she pushed the child once, with her wrist and watch hitting the girl on the back of the head. With Smith's testimony and her own admission Maria feared that she would be found guilty. Under extreme pressure, Maria pleaded guilty mid-trial to manslaughter. At the time of her trial in 1992, Maria had three children of her own. On October 22, 1992, she was sentenced to imprisonment for two years less a day. She was released on parole on June 21, 1993.

It wasn't until February 29, 2106 that Maria, represented by defence lawyer, Innocence Canada's James Lockyer, was formally acquitted by The Ontario Court of Appeal. The decision in favour of Maria came after a short hearing. The Court of Appeal for Ontario took only a few minutes to make its decision. In Maria's case both the Crown and Defence put forward a mutual recommendation for Maria's acquittal, as Crown attorney Howard Leibovich agreed with the defence's position.

Afterward Maria said she was "elated" by the decision after wearing the label of "baby killer" for more than two decades."This didn't come without a lot of quiet tears and anguish at home," she said. "I am innocent. I didn't do anything but care for Kasandra. I loved her as if she was born to me."

"I did not cause Kasandra's death, and my conviction for doing so has haunted me ever since," Shepherd said in a recent affidavit. "The best thing for all these 25 years is that my family - my husband, Ashley, who was Kasandra's father, my son Jordan , my daughter Natasha, Chelseaand Chanel - have supported me. They will all be with me at the appeal today. These have been painful years for us all. Kasandra was an important and special member of our family. We loved her. We believe that she is with us today and that she can now finally rest in peace."

Smith would lose his medical licence in 2011. The theory now is that Kasandra may have had a previous brain injury that caused seizures or that she suddenly developed a seizure disorder that killed her.

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#wrognfullyconvictedwednesday Maria Sheppard - Pyzer Criminal Lawyers

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In 1991 Maria Shepard was wrongfully convicted of manslaughter for killing her three-year-old stepdaughter. She spent 25 years fighting to exonerate herself. In April 1991 Maria's step-daughter, Kasandra, who had been ill for a long period of time, had begun vomiting and became unresponsive as she passed into a come...

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In this photo her father is in her arms crying after she won her battle to be a free woman after 25 years.

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Ontario's top court has formally acquitted a woman who pleaded guilty 25 years ago to killing her three-year-old
stepdaughter.

The decision in favour of Maria Shepherd, of Brampton, Ont., came after a short hearing at the urging of both Crown and defence.

The Court of Appeal for Ontario took just a few minutes to render its decision.

Shepherd pleaded guilty in 1992 to manslaughter in the death of Kasandra Shepherd following evidence presented by now-disgraced pathologist Charles Smith.

Defence lawyer, James Lockyer, with the Association in Defence of the Wrongly Convicted, told the justices that other experts have now concluded Smith's opinion was seriously flawed.

'Miscarriage of justice'

Crown attorney Howard Leibovich agreed, and urged Shepherd's conviction be quashed in favour of an acquittal.

He said a "miscarriage of justice" had occurred, and Shepherd would not have pleaded guilty had she known what she knows now.

"This is a tragic case," Leibovich said. "Kasandra deserved better. Her family deserved better. [Shepherd] deserved better."

Speaking for the court, Justice David Watt exonerated Shepherd, saying Smith's evidence had been the "linchpin" for the Crown's case against her.

The justice system, he said, held out a "powerful inducement" for her to plead guilty given that she faced a possible lengthy prison sentence had she been convicted after a trial, Watt said.

"The appeal is allowed," Watt said. "The plea of guilty and conviction is set aside and an acquittal entered."

Smith's autopsy on the girl was one of many suspicious child deaths he had done, several leading to wrongful convictions.

Speaking to reporters outside the court shortly after her conviction was quashed, Shepherd said she was "elated" by the decision after wearing the label of "baby killer" for more than two decades.

"This didn't come without a lot of quiet tears and anguish at home," she said. "I am innoc ent. I didn't do anything but care for Kasandra . I loved her as if she was born to me."

Shepherd said she forgives Smith, who she said was treated "like a God" by those in the court system.

A 'long and terrible ordeal'

A review of Smith's work and subsequent public inquiry uncovered numerous examples where he made serious mistakes. He was stripped of his medical licence in 2011.

Court documents show Kasandra began vomiting and became unresponsive in April 1991 after a long period of ill health. She died two days after being admitted to hospital.

Smith concluded she died from trauma due to at least one blow of "significant force."

Shepherd had told police she pushed the child once, with her wrist and watch hitting the girl on the back of the head, but said she didn't believe the blow could have killed the girl.

'I did not cause Kasandra's death'

Her lawyer at the time consulted an outside expert who agreed Smith's theory was reasonable, prompting her to plead guilty to manslaughter. She was sentenced to two years less a day.

"I did not cause Kasandra's death, and my conviction for doing so has haunted me ever since," Shepherd said in a recent affidavit.

Forensic experts have now concluded Smith's testimony at Shepherd's court hearing contained a "number of significant
errors."

The theory now is that Kasandra may have had a previous brain injury that caused seizures or that she suddenly developed a seizure disorder that killed her.

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Maria Shepherd 'elated' after 1992 conviction in stepdaughter's death quashed | CBC News

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An Ontario judge has set aside a guilty plea in a 25-year-old manslaughter case involving a woman who pleaded guilty in the death of her stepdaughter following evidence presented by a now-disgraced pathologist.

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This video explains after 25 years, she earned her freedom. She says in the video herself she couldn't believe it.

She comforted her father who was in tears to learn that she would never commit a crime especially killing her own 3-year-old daughter who passed away due to natural causes.

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Mon, Feb 29: For the past 25 years, she lived under a cloud of suspicion. But now, a Brampton, Ontario woman named Maria Shepherd has been exonerated in the death of her three-year-old stepdaughter. Allison Vuchnich reports.

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Maria Shepherd exonerated in death of her stepdaughter after decades | Watch News Videos Online

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Watch Maria Shepherd exonerated in death of her stepdaughter after decades Video Online, on GlobalNews.ca

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In This video Shepherd explains, how she had to quickly plead guilty before her mother had  arrived because she knew it would break her mothers heart, to hear that your child is wrongfully convicted on man slaughter.

Shepherd said herself it was "very scary" to hear the judge say she was convicted on manslaughter. She said she had to put aside her entire family to protect them.

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Maria Shepherd talks about the day of her manslaughter conviction in the death of her stepdaughter

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In this video Shepherd explains her whole story and how she was finally free after 25 years of being wrongfully convicted.

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Branded a child killer 25 years ago, woman wins battle to clear her name

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Maris Shepherd who was 21-years-old had two children and was charged with “murdering” her third child on April 24, 1991. Who was three-and-a-half-years-old who happened to be her step-daughter.

According to Doctor Charles Smith who was a paediatric forensic pathologist at the time working for Toronto’s Hospital for Sick Children. Dr. Smith said the cause of her death was abuse, which involved blows to her head, that left a “watch-shaped mark under her scalp”.

LINK RELEVANCE/SUMMARY:
The link's relevance in my opinion basically explained Shepherd's story in a few sentences, as to why she became the main suspect, when it all happened, how she pleaded guilty even though she was very much so innocent and still did the time in prison hoping one day they would find her innocent.

Since then Shepherd has been released from prison after being wrongfully convicted of a crime she did not commit.

Shepherd had her name cleared and since then she achieved her goals and is now working as a paralegal, fully licensed by October 28, 2016.

Shepherd and her son are now working, with their busy work schedules and living their life successfully as they should.

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The Ontario Court of Appeal on February 29, 2016 quashed Maria Shepherd's manslaughter conviction and entered an acquittal in its place. Maria, her family, friends, and members of Innocence Canada were there to support her on this momentous day that unfortunately took 25 stressful years to come to fruition.

Maria was 21-years-old, with two young children and pregnant with her third child when she was charged with causing the death of her three-and-a-half-year-old step-daughter, Kasandra, on April 24, 1991. The linchpin of Maria's case was the flawed evidence of Dr. Charles Smith who was at the time revered as a paediatric forensic pathologist at Toronto's Hospital for Sick Children.

According to Smith, who conducted Kasandra's autopsy, she died as a result of abuse, involving a blow or blows to the head, leaving a watch-shaped mark under her scalp.

In October 1992, Maria was under extreme pressure and concern that the Children's Aid Society would take her children if she continued to claim innocence. She desperately wanted to keep her family together and when her lawyer, Tom Wiley consulted with a pathologist who felt Smith's opinion was valid, Maria felt she had no choice but to plead guilty to manslaughter.

On October 22, 1992 Maria, now pregnant with her fourth child, was sentenced to two years less a day.

Maria gave birth to a little girl on March 31st, 1993, five months into her prison sentence. She was released on parole on June 21, 1993, eight months after being imprisoned and reunited with her children, Jordan, Natasha, Chelsea, Chanel and her husband Ashley, who steadfastly remained by her side.

Maria, despite her guilty plea continued to maintain her innocence and never gave up hope of one day being able to clear her name. In 2005, Kasandra's case, amongst others, were re-examined when complaints about Smith's work led to a review of his cases by the Ontario Coroner's Office. The review found that Smith had made questionable findings in 12 cases that had led to criminal convictions by mishandling autopsies and misdiagnosing causes of death. In 2007 a public inquiry was led by Ontario Court of Appeal judge Stephen Goudge. The Association in Defence of the Wrongly Convicted (AIDWYC), now Innocence Canada, contacted Maria and told her about these developments which suggested that in all probability Kasandra had died of natural causes. Maria asked Innocence Canada to investigate and if possible re-open Kasandra's case.

Innocence Canada led by its lead counsel James Lockyer had Maria's case reviewed by three experts: Dr. Simon Avis, a forensic neuropathologist from St. John's Newfoundland; Dr. David Ramsay, a forensic neuropathologist from London; and Dr. Patrick Barnes, a forensic radiologist from Stanford University, California. All the experts agreed that Smith had misattributed Kasandra's death to homicide, referring to his opinions as "unreliable in the extreme" and "pseudo-scientific."

In May 2009, the Ontario Court of Appeal allowed Maria to appeal her conviction, but it took another seven years of waiting and hoping before her case was heard by Justices David Watt, Gladys Pardu and Peter Lauwers who found that Smith's opinion had now been "thoroughly discredited", which rendered Maria's plea void.

Maria Shepherd has the distinction of being the 21st person that Innocence Canada has helped clear their name. We are humbled to have had a significant role in lifting the cloud that has for far too long hovered over the heads of her and her dedicated and loving family.

We extend our sincere congratulations to Maria who fulfilled one of her dreams by becoming a licensed paralegal on October 28, 2016.

Maria and her son Jordan, since her acquittal when their busy schedules allow, have taken the opportunity to share their story and expose the tragic consequences of a wrongful conviction.

Maria is a shining light!

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The Ontario Court of Appeal on February 29, 2016 quashed Maria Shepherd's manslaughter conviction and entered an acquittal in its place. Maria, her family, friends, and members of Innocence Canada were there to support her on this momentous day that unfortunately took 25 stressful years to come to fruition.

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This ones a news article, which is good because I am in second-year Journalism.

This news article explains how she willingly pleaded guilty because she knew she could get her name cleared.

Although her step-daughter passed because of natural causes she still went to jail for up to 7 years for her dead child. Dr. Smith wrongfully convicted her and accused her of manslaughter when she did nothing wrong.

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Ontario's top court has formally acquitted a woman who pleaded guilty 25 years ago to killing her three-year-old
stepdaughter.

The decision in favour of Maria Shepherd, of Brampton, Ont., came after a short hearing at the urging of both Crown and defence.

The Court of Appeal for Ontario took just a few minutes to render its decision.

Shepherd pleaded guilty in 1992 to manslaughter in the death of Kasandra Shepherd following evidence presented by now-disgraced pathologist Charles Smith.

Defence lawyer, James Lockyer, with the Association in Defence of the Wrongly Convicted, told the justices that other experts have now concluded Smith's opinion was seriously flawed.

'Miscarriage of justice'

Crown attorney Howard Leibovich agreed, and urged Shepherd's conviction be quashed in favour of an acquittal.

He said a "miscarriage of justice" had occurred, and Shepherd would not have pleaded guilty had she known what she knows now.

"This is a tragic case," Leibovich said. "Kasandra deserved better. Her family deserved better. [Shepherd] deserved better."

Speaking for the court, Justice David Watt exonerated Shepherd, saying Smith's evidence had been the "linchpin" for the Crown's case against her.

The justice system, he said, held out a "powerful inducement" for her to plead guilty given that she faced a possible lengthy prison sentence had she been convicted after a trial, Watt said.

"The appeal is allowed," Watt said. "The plea of guilty and conviction is set aside and an acquittal entered."

Smith's autopsy on the girl was one of many suspicious child deaths he had done, several leading to wrongful convictions.

Speaking to reporters outside the court shortly after her conviction was quashed, Shepherd said she was "elated" by the decision after wearing the label of "baby killer" for more than two decades.

"This didn't come without a lot of quiet tears and anguish at home," she said. "I am innoc ent. I didn't do anything but care for Kasandra . I loved her as if she was born to me."

Shepherd said she forgives Smith, who she said was treated "like a God" by those in the court system.

A 'long and terrible ordeal'

A review of Smith's work and subsequent public inquiry uncovered numerous examples where he made serious mistakes. He was stripped of his medical licence in 2011.

Court documents show Kasandra began vomiting and became unresponsive in April 1991 after a long period of ill health. She died two days after being admitted to hospital.

Smith concluded she died from trauma due to at least one blow of "significant force."

Shepherd had told police she pushed the child once, with her wrist and watch hitting the girl on the back of the head, but said she didn't believe the blow could have killed the girl.

'I did not cause Kasandra's death'

Her lawyer at the time consulted an outside expert who agreed Smith's theory was reasonable, prompting her to plead guilty to manslaughter. She was sentenced to two years less a day.

"I did not cause Kasandra's death, and my conviction for doing so has haunted me ever since," Shepherd said in a recent affidavit.

Forensic experts have now concluded Smith's testimony at Shepherd's court hearing contained a "number of significant
errors."

The theory now is that Kasandra may have had a previous brain injury that caused seizures or that she suddenly developed a seizure disorder that killed her.

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Maria Shepherd 'elated' after 1992 conviction in stepdaughter's death quashed | CBC News

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An Ontario judge has set aside a guilty plea in a 25-year-old manslaughter case involving a woman who pleaded guilty in the death of her stepdaughter following evidence presented by a now-disgraced pathologist.

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This website goes more into details on how her step-daughter actually had passed away, and it certainly was not manslaughter.

Shepherd's daughter had actually passed away from natural causes according to the website, her step-daughter began with vomiting, and began to be unresponsive as she passed into a coma.

I feel like this website is more detailed then the first one.
I find myself having a better understanding with what exactly happened in her case.

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In 1991 Maria Shepard was wrongfully convicted of manslaughter for killing her three-year-old stepdaughter. She spent 25 years fighting to exonerate herself. In April 1991 Maria's step-daughter, Kasandra, who had been ill for a long period of time, had begun vomiting and became unresponsive as she passed into a come . She was admitted to hospital where died two days later. Dr. Charles Smith was then the paediatric pathologist at Sick Children's Hospital. He conducted Kasandra's autopsy and told the police that Kasandra had died as a result of abuse, involving a blow or blows to the head. Maria was on of many victims of now disgraced pathologist Charles Smith. Smith gained notoriety for his misleading expert medical findings, that lead to multiple wrongful convictions before his findings were revealed to be significantly flawed.

On April 24, 1991, Maria Shepherd, 21 years old, was charged with manslaughter in Kasandra's death. At Maria's trial Smith concluded that Kasandra had died from trauma due to at least one blow of "significant force. As well during the investigation Maria had told police she pushed the child once, with her wrist and watch hitting the girl on the back of the head. With Smith's testimony and her own admission Maria feared that she would be found guilty. Under extreme pressure, Maria pleaded guilty mid-trial to manslaughter. At the time of her trial in 1992, Maria had three children of her own. On October 22, 1992, she was sentenced to imprisonment for two years less a day. She was released on parole on June 21, 1993.

It wasn't until February 29, 2106 that Maria, represented by defence lawyer, Innocence Canada's James Lockyer, was formally acquitted by The Ontario Court of Appeal. The decision in favour of Maria came after a short hearing. The Court of Appeal for Ontario took only a few minutes to make its decision. In Maria's case both the Crown and Defence put forward a mutual recommendation for Maria's acquittal, as Crown attorney Howard Leibovich agreed with the defence's position.

Afterward Maria said she was "elated" by the decision after wearing the label of "baby killer" for more than two decades."This didn't come without a lot of quiet tears and anguish at home," she said. "I am innocent. I didn't do anything but care for Kasandra. I loved her as if she was born to me."

"I did not cause Kasandra's death, and my conviction for doing so has haunted me ever since," Shepherd said in a recent affidavit. "The best thing for all these 25 years is that my family - my husband, Ashley, who was Kasandra's father, my son Jordan , my daughter Natasha, Chelseaand Chanel - have supported me. They will all be with me at the appeal today. These have been painful years for us all. Kasandra was an important and special member of our family. We loved her. We believe that she is with us today and that she can now finally rest in peace."

Smith would lose his medical licence in 2011. The theory now is that Kasandra may have had a previous brain injury that caused seizures or that she suddenly developed a seizure disorder that killed her.

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#wrognfullyconvictedwednesday Maria Sheppard - Pyzer Criminal Lawyers

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In 1991 Maria Shepard was wrongfully convicted of manslaughter for killing her three-year-old stepdaughter. She spent 25 years fighting to exonerate herself. In April 1991 Maria's step-daughter, Kasandra, who had been ill for a long period of time, had begun vomiting and became unresponsive as she passed into a come...