Justice minister orders new trial for Quebec man who spent 3 decades in prison
Canada's Justice Minister Sean Fraser has ordered a new trial for Daniel Jolivet, who spent 33 years in prison for a 1994 conviction. The decision follows a federal review suggesting a likely miscarriage of justice in the original case.
Why it matters
This case underscores the importance of judicial review mechanisms in addressing potential wrongful convictions and maintaining public trust in the legal system.
Daniel Jolivet spent 33 years behind bars before he was granted bail, pending the outcome of a federal review into a possible miscarriage of justice.
On Friday, Sean Fraser ordered a new trial, saying he had reasonable grounds to conclude that a miscarriage of justice likely occurred in Jolivet’s 1994 conviction.
"My decision does not decide guilt or innocence, as that will rest with the courts," he said in a news release . "Our responsibility is to make sure Canadians can trust their justice system, and that means, in rare cases, returning cases to the courts for new information to be considered."
Quebec's Crown prosecutor's office said it would analyze the evidence to determine whether it would proceed with the case. The prosecution said Jolivet "once again benefits from the presumption of innocence regarding the alleged offences."
Quebec man who spent over 3 decades in prison gets new trial
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