REAL REPENTANCE IN CANADA AT LAST

A man wrongfully convicted of his mother's murder was jubilant yesterday upon learning he'll be awarded an additional $650,000 in compensation from the Newfoundland government. "Everything is finally done and over with," said Greg Parsons. "I'm satisfied."

The province's decision brings the total compensation for Parsons to $1.3 million, including a previous settlement of $650,000. "We feel this is within the scope of packages received by wrongfully convicted persons in Canada," provincial Justice Minister Tom Marshall said after announcing the additional funds.

Parsons said he's pleased a public inquiry is complete and the compensation issue settled for good. "My biggest goal now is to live a private life with my family, and just go on and be as normal as we can be," he said.

It has been 14 years since Parsons, then 19, found his mother's bloodied body in her home one January morning. He was convicted in 1994 of second-degree murder. Parsons spent six weeks in prison before he was released pending an appeal, but he testified before a judicial inquiry that members of the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary harassed him for years. He was arrested twice, once with the use of a police dog that bit him so severely he needed 38 stitches to close the wounds.

With suspicion hanging over him, Parsons said he was unable to find a job and eventually turned to social services to feed his family. Parsons was exonerated by DNA evidence and formally acquitted in 1998. A childhood friend has since pleaded guilty to the crime.

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