Canadian man given $4.25m for wrongful conviction

The culmination of a long saga and another example of incompetent forensic science. Note: Nearly 3 years from acquittal to compensation. Not remotely good enough

An Ontario man who spent 12 years in prison for a sexual assault and murder he did not commit has been given $4.25 million for his wrongful conviction. William Mullins-Johnson was convicted in 1994 in connection with the death of his niece.

The Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., man was one of several people impacted by the work of now-discredited pathologist Dr. Charles Smith. Smith said the girl had shown signs of strangulation despite the child's history of vomiting in bed.

"On behalf of the Government of Ontario, I offer my deepest and most sincere apologies to Mr. Mullins-Johnson and his family for the miscarriage of justice that occurred and the pain they had to endure," Attorney-General Chris Bentley said in a statement.

"Mr. Mullins-Johnson has been working hard to rebuild his life and we wish him well as he continues that process."

In 2005, the Chief Coroner of Ontario ordered a review of 44 of Smith's autopsies. The ensuing report led Ontario's attorney-general to open a public inquiry into Smith's work in November, 2007. The inquiry, headed by Justice Stephen Goudge, released its report in October 2008, and heavily criticized Smith's work, finding fault with 20 of the autopsies.

Mullins-Johnson was acquitted of both charges in 2007, following a review by a panel of pathology experts. During the inquiry, Smith apologized to Mullins-Johnson, asking for his forgiveness.

Original report here




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