Innocent
The Star says:
James Driskell has recovered his innocence. Now he's looking for accountability. The 46-year-old Winnipeg man spent more than 12 years in prison because forensic scientists made mistakes and witnesses lied. And for more than a decade, Manitoba prosecutors concealed evidence...
According to the CBC, The federal Justice Minister Cotler decided to intervene on the basis of the following factors:
- DNA analysis on three hairs found in Driskell's van. At Driskell's trial, the Crown said they belonged to Harder. But further DNA testing done a decade later found that none of those hairs belonged to the victim.
- The Crown's failure to disclose that its two key witnesses - Reath Zanidean and John Gumieny - who had testified that Driskell planned the murder, received financial compensation. They also have recanted or threatened to recant their testimony.
- The Crown's failure to disclose information that Zanidean likely committed perjury at the trial.
- Winnipeg Police failure to disclose information that would have been helpful to Driskell's defence
So will the witnesses, the police and the prosecutors now face trial instead?