Manitoba court quashes murder convictions for Métis man who spent decades in prison
Social Sharing
A Métis man who spent more than two decades in prison had his murder convictions quashed by the Manitoba Court of Appeal last week.
In 1997, Robert Sanderson was found guilty of three counts of first-degree murder in connection with the August 1996 killings of Jason Gross, Russel Krowetz and Stefan Zurstag at a home in West Kildonan.
Sanderson was sentenced to life in prison with no eligibility for parole for 25 years.
He has always maintained his innocence.
He appealed his convictions in 1999, but the appeal was dismissed by the Manitoba Court of Appeal. Later that year, Sanderson was denied leave to appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada.
In 2017, 20 years after he was convicted, Innocence Canada applied for a ministerial review of Sanderson's case, the organization said in a Monday news release.
Flawed DNA testing conducted on a hair found at the scene had connected Sanderson to the crime at the time of his conviction. More advanced tests done in the mid-2000s showed that the hair samples didn't match Sanderson or the two other men who were charged in the case.
Other new evidence considered by the appeal court was that an eyewitness was given "substantial sums of money by the authorities pursuant to an agreement after he testified at the trial," Innocence Canada said.
Sanderson was denied bail in 2018, but was released on full parole a short time later.
After his release, Sanderson told CBC News in 2023 that he had found healing through embracing his culture and creating art inspired by his Métis and Ojibway heritage. He moved to Victoria, B.C.
In 2023, then-federal justice minister David Lametti found there was likely a miscarriage of justice in Sanderson's case. Lametti referred the case to the Manitoba Court of Appeal for a new hearing.
Last week, the court quashed the convictions and ordered a new trial. Innocence Canada said in its news release that the Crown has advised the court "it will exercise its discretion and enter a stay of proceedings on public interest grounds."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
National Post
16 minutes ago
- National Post
Justice minister apologizes for comments that 'potentially eroded' trust with Indigenous peoples
OTTAWA — Justice Minister Sean Fraser apologized Wednesday for recent comments about the federal government's duty to consult First Nations regarding developing projects on their territories, saying his words 'potentially eroded a very precarious trust.' Article content The issue has emerged in light of Prime Minister Mark Carney's plan to introduce legislation that would fast-track approvals for major energy and infrastructure projects by cutting the timeline to two years, down from five. Article content Article content Article content The Assembly of First Nations, a national advocacy organization representing more than 600 First Nations across the country, has expressed concerns that, from what they have seen of the forthcoming bill, it 'suggests a serious threat' to First Nations treaty rights. Article content Article content In a recent letter to Carney, National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak cited the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, which outlines the principle of obtaining 'free, prior, and informed consent' regarding laws and decisions that affect Indigenous peoples. Article content When asked about that principle on Tuesday, Fraser outlined his interpretation of it, telling reporters that it demands 'a very deep level of engagement and understanding of the rights that may be impacted.' Article content However, he said, 'it stops short of a complete veto' when it comes to government decisions Article content On Wednesday, Fraser apologized for those comments, saying it gave some the impression of the government wanting to 'work unilaterally, not in partnership,' with Indigenous people. Article content Article content 'Despite innocent intentions, I think my comments actually caused hurt and potentially eroded a very precarious trust that has been built up over many years to respect the rights of Indigenous people in this country,' he said on his way into the Liberal caucus meeting. Article content The minister said that after he made those remarks he received a call from the national chief, 'expressing her frustration.' Article content Fraser said he apologized to Woodhouse Nepinak and committed to do so publicly. Article content 'This is completely on my own initiative,' Fraser told reporters. Article content 'I've not been asked to do this by anyone. (Woodhouse Nepinak) said that she would appreciate if I would offer some clarity. But this is not coming from anyone within government. This is something I feel compelled to do.' Article content National Post Article content staylor@ Article content Article content Article content
Global News
16 minutes ago
- Global News
Minister says his comments on Indigenous consultation ‘eroded' trust
Justice Minister Sean Fraser apologized Wednesday for comments he made about the government's duty to consult with Indigenous leaders on major projects. Fraser said Tuesday that the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples requires consultation but does not amount to 'a blanket veto power' over projects. Speaking to reporters Wednesday, Fraser said Assembly of First Nations National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak called him Tuesday night to express her frustration with his comments, and he apologized. 'Despite innocent intentions, I think my comments actually caused hurt and potentially eroded a very precarious trust that has been built up over many years to respect the rights of Indigenous people in this country,' Fraser said. 'I've come into a position that I think is essential in the process of respecting the rights of Indigenous Peoples and I wanted to make sure that just not Chief Woodhouse but Indigenous leaders, Indigenous Peoples across this country know that my desire and the government of Canada's desire is to move forward on a relationship.' Story continues below advertisement 3:02 Carney calls for energy partnerships to make Canada a global superpower Woodhouse Nepinak said it's 'disheartening' when politicians make such comments and the government has made a series of missteps since her Thursday meeting with Prime Minister Mark Carney. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'When the prime minister's trying to start a relationship with First Nations in a good way, it's disheartening when comments are made later, twice now actually this week,' she said, citing Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Rebecca Alty saying that work to fill the First Nations infrastructure gap won't qualify for Ottawa's push to fast-track what it calls 'nation-building' projects. 'And then (Fraser's) comment came yesterday and I was taken aback. He called to apologize. He needs to apologize to First Nations for those comments.' The UN declaration, which Canada adopted, requires free, prior and informed consent from Indigenous Peoples on matters affecting their rights, lands, territories and resources. Story continues below advertisement Fraser said talking about the declaration in terms of veto power makes an assumption that the government and Indigenous people are working against each another. 'In my experience engaging with Indigenous leaders, their perspective is one of wanting to have their rights respected and wanting to share in the benefits of development,' Fraser said. 'So, as we go forward, whether it's on the major projects initiative we'll be working on or any issue that touches on the rights of Indigenous Peoples, I want to be absolutely clear that our desire is to work in partnership and at every stage of the process, from project selection to conditions that may be imposed. We're going to engage, properly consult and work in partnership to respect the rights of Indigenous Peoples.'
CBC
16 minutes ago
- CBC
Winnipeg police seek man accused of committing indecent act against women in public
Social Sharing Winnipeg police are looking for a man they allege committed indecent acts against women earlier this year. Officers received two separate reports regarding the acts in March and April, police said in a news release Wednesday. Images of a man were captured on CCTV cameras, police said. The man is believed to be in his 20s, police said. He has collar-length dark hair as well as slight facial hair and was seen wearing two different ball caps, police said.
