Kim Campbell's embarrassing error
I'm not really sure why this news is being reported now but the Edmonton Sun just reported that former Prime Minister, Kim Campbell, rejected Milgaard's original application for appeal back in 1991. The Sun quoted her as having said these regrettable words at the time: "No guilt or suspicion of guilt can be attributed to Fisher in the absence of some form of evidence linking him to the crime."
Well, hindsight is always 20/20, but most of us living in Canada who were following David's plight at the time can still picture that chilling television clip of Kim Campbell dismissing Joyce Milgaard and telling Joyce not to directly approach her; that was played over and over again on TV, making the Justice Minister at the time look extremely coldhearted. I'm sure that Campbell never wants to hear the word "Milgaard" again!
Anyway, I can only presume that this ancient history is being discussed at the inquiry this week, which is why I keep getting Google alerts about it.
Sigrid Mac
posted by Sigrid Macdonald @ 4:54 PM
4 Comments:
At 4:31 PM,
Anonymous said…
Hi Sigrid
The CBC coverage on Monday was another good press release by the CBC. They really cover the milgaard inquiry well.
Average Canadian
Dan Wood
At 1:05 PM,
Sigrid Macdonald said…
Dan,
I'm embarrassed to say that I am addicted to CNN and I don't follow the CBC very much. I get my Canadian news from other sources and receive most of my Milgaard info from The Star Phoenix, or sometimes CBC or CTV.
What did CBC say on Monday that was interesting?
Still makes me laugh when you sign off as the Average Canadian.
At 5:03 PM,
Anonymous said…
Hi Sigrid
Here again it would be great for a comment, from another writer or journalist. The CBC has not over looked this INQuiry and they really have done their homework
About The comment From Than Justice Minsister Kim Campbell.
She was trying to do the right thing. But how can Someone like David, who was in Prison or on Parole . Go out and collect evidence of a crime? Thats not his job.
But there are people out there who,s job it is.
Iam Canadian
Dan Wood
At 5:40 PM,
Sigrid Macdonald said…
Dan,
I don't think Kim Campbell was trying to do the right thing. By the time David appealed for mercy under the Section 690, his childhood friends had already retracted their "confessions," which had implicated him in the murder. Larry Fisher was behind bars as a serial rapist and his wife Linda had already been to visit the police to tell them that she had suspected her husband -- Linda also spoke to Joyce Milgaard.
There was ample evidence in 1991 when Kim Campbell rejected David's application that suggested that a miscarriage of justice may have taken place. She was wrong and, of course, she did rectify her mistake.
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