Resurrecting the Truscott case
In 1959 Stephen Truscott was arrested and charged with the rape and murder of his 12-year-old neighbor, Lynne Harper, because he was the last person who had been seen with her. Stephen was 14 years old and always maintained his innocence.
Back in those days, Canada had the death penalty and Truscott was sentenced to hang. CTV reported that he spent four long months on death row before his hanging was "postponed" and his sentence was eventually commuted to life in prison.
Truscott served 10 years, lived a life of relative anonymity for some time and finally contacted the Association in Defense of the Wrongly Convicted (AIDWYC).
In 2005, a judicial review by Justice Kaufman was released, stating that there was insufficient evidence to exonerate Stephen Truscott; however, Kaufman did say that a miscarriage of justice may have occurred in this case. Truscott willingly submitted to DNA tests like Milgaard and Morin, but since the Truscott case is so old, there is very little evidence left. Moreover, it seems as though the physical evidence that did exist was mishandled.
Yesterday, the body of 12-year-old Lynne Harper was exhumed, at the request of Ontario's Attorney General Michael Bryant, in a never-ending quest for definitive information to satisfy the Crown of Truscott's innocence.
Many Truscott supporters were not pleased with this turn of events and felt that it was quite unnecessary. My own opinion is that it is clearly tragic that Harper's parents and family had to endure the pain of this procedure. But if the coroner discovers anything that will conclusively prove Stephen's claims, it will have been worth it. Moreover, the Harpers will be rewarded by growing one step closer to finding out who really killed their prepubescent daughter.
Sigrid Mac
Back in those days, Canada had the death penalty and Truscott was sentenced to hang. CTV reported that he spent four long months on death row before his hanging was "postponed" and his sentence was eventually commuted to life in prison.
Truscott served 10 years, lived a life of relative anonymity for some time and finally contacted the Association in Defense of the Wrongly Convicted (AIDWYC).
In 2005, a judicial review by Justice Kaufman was released, stating that there was insufficient evidence to exonerate Stephen Truscott; however, Kaufman did say that a miscarriage of justice may have occurred in this case. Truscott willingly submitted to DNA tests like Milgaard and Morin, but since the Truscott case is so old, there is very little evidence left. Moreover, it seems as though the physical evidence that did exist was mishandled.
Yesterday, the body of 12-year-old Lynne Harper was exhumed, at the request of Ontario's Attorney General Michael Bryant, in a never-ending quest for definitive information to satisfy the Crown of Truscott's innocence.
Many Truscott supporters were not pleased with this turn of events and felt that it was quite unnecessary. My own opinion is that it is clearly tragic that Harper's parents and family had to endure the pain of this procedure. But if the coroner discovers anything that will conclusively prove Stephen's claims, it will have been worth it. Moreover, the Harpers will be rewarded by growing one step closer to finding out who really killed their prepubescent daughter.
Sigrid Mac
posted by Sigrid Macdonald @ 4:07 PM
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