A Barlett woman convicted of murdering a 10-month-old boy in her care by shaking him to death got her first state clemency board hearing Tuesday.
Pamela Jacobazzi, 51, is serving a 32-year sentence for killing Matthew Czapski in 1994. On Tuesday morning, the Illinois Prisoner Review Board in Springfield heard from Jacobazzi’s defense attorney, Anthony Sassan, and DuPage County Assistant State’s Atty. Jane Radostits, for arguments on her clemency bid.
If the board votes to recommend clemency, her case will go to Gov. Rod Blagojevich for consideration. The board’s vote is confidential, and there is no timeline for its decision.
Radostits said she asked the board not to pass a clemency request on to Blagojevich. Sassan could not be reached for comment Tuesday.
Some experts contend that shaken-baby syndrome is an unproven theory that allows prosecutors to rely on emotion and fervor rather than scientific evidence. Other experts disagree.
