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Smith, Shirley
Age when convicted:
36
Year convicted:
Age of infant/child at death (weeks):
Charge theory:
SBS
Year exonerated/released:
2006
Years incarcerated:
9
Later explanation:
INFECTION
Additional information:
Thin SBS case: only a small subdural and optic nerve sheath bleeding, no brain swelling, no retinal haemorrhages, no bruises or fractures; later reviewers argued natural cause (possibly infection/SIDS) and Ninth Circuit called evidence constitutionally insufficient, but U.S. Supreme Court reinstated the conviction; Gov. Brown commuted sentence to time served in 2012.
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