William Kennedy Smith

William Kennedy Smith (born September 4, 1960) is an American physician whose work focuses on landmines and the rehabilitation of people disabled by them. He is a member of the prominent Kennedy political family and is famous for a well-publicized 1991 rape trial in which he was acquitted.

Related Topics:
September 4 - 1960 - American - Physician - Landmine - Kennedy political family

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Smith is the second of four children of Stephen Edward Smith and Jean Kennedy Smith. Smith's mother is a daughter of Joseph P. Kennedy, Sr. and Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy, so Smith is the nephew of President John F. Kennedy, Senator Robert F. Kennedy, and Senator Ted Kennedy.

Related Topics:
Jean Kennedy Smith - Joseph P. Kennedy, Sr. - Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy - John F. Kennedy - Robert F. Kennedy - Ted Kennedy

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Smith received his undergraduate degree from Duke University and his M.D. degree from Georgetown University Medical School. He has published several articles concerning landmines, as well as co-writing and narrating a video on the subject. He founded the Center for International Rehabilitation, "a worldwide humanitarian network of individuals and organizations that promotes the full potential of people with disabilities . . . ." http://www.cirnetwork.org/info/about_us.cfm

Related Topics:
Duke University - Georgetown University

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In 1991, Smith was tried and acquitted on a charge of rape. He was represented by prominent criminal defense attorney Roy Black. The trial attracted extensive media coverage because of the prominence of the Kennedy family. The incident began on the evening of March 30, 1991 when Smith, then 30 years old, was in a bar in Palm Beach, Florida in the company of his uncle, Senator Ted Kennedy, and his cousin Patrick Kennedy. Smith met a 29-year-old woman named Patricia Bowman. Patrick became acquainted with Michelle Cassone, another young woman who was at the bar. The four of them then went to a nearby house owned the Kennedy family. Smith and Bowman went for a walk along the beach. Bowman alleged that Smith raped her. Smith testified that the sex was consensual. At a criminal trial later that year, Smith was acquitted of all charges against him.

Related Topics:
Rape - Roy Black - March 30 - 1991 - Palm Beach, Florida - Senator - Patrick Kennedy

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In 2004, a former employee of the Center for International Rehabilitation, Audra Soulias, alleged that Smith had sexually assaulted her in 1999. She brought a civil action against him. Smith denied her charges, calling them "outrageous" and saying that "family and personal history have made me unusually vulnerable to these kinds of charges" http://www.cnn.com/2005/LAW/01/05/kennedy.smith.ap/ and resigned from the CIR. On January 5, 2005, the court dismissed Soulias's lawsuit.

Related Topics:
January 5 - 2005

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In the same time period it was reported that Laura Hamilton was paid a large sum of money by Smith in an out of court settlement. Laura Hamilton charge that Smith "often improperly touched her" and "gave unwanted massages" A draft complaint states, "Dr. Smith continued to rub Ms. Hamilton's belly, inched his hand below her waist, and stuck his tongue in her ear" http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/0620051wksmith1.html

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