Latest news with #RoyAllanSobotiak
The Province
03-08-2025
- The Province
Prosecutors stay murder conviction of Canada's longest-serving wrongfully convicted man, lawyer says
Innocence Canada says Roy Allan Sobotiak was to appear in court Friday to set a date for his new trial, but says the Crown Prosecution Service stayed his second-degree murder charge Published Aug 03, 2025 • 1 minute read Lawyer James Lockyer says the group was "delighted" by the news and believes this is the longest a wrongly convicted person has spent in prison in Canada. Photo by BrianAJackson / Getty Images/iStockphoto The group representing an Alberta man who spent decades in prison for the death of an Edmonton woman says his charge has been stayed. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Innocence Canada says Roy Allan Sobotiak was to appear in court Friday to set a date for his new trial, but says the Crown Prosecution Service stayed his second-degree murder charge. Lawyer James Lockyer says the group was 'delighted' by the news and believes this is the longest a wrongly convicted person has spent in prison in Canada. Sobotiak was granted bail earlier this year for his 1991 life sentence in the 1987 murder of Susan Kaminsky after former federal justice minister Arif Virani ordered a new trial due to what he called a likely 'miscarriage of justice.' Lawyers for Alberta Justice had requested a judicial review, arguing that Virani provided no reasoning as to why a new trial was warranted. A spokesperson for the provincial government did not immediately return a request for comment. Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here. Local News News Tennis Columnists News
Vancouver Sun
03-08-2025
- Vancouver Sun
Prosecutors stay murder conviction of Canada's longest-serving wrongfully convicted man, lawyer says
The group representing an Alberta man who spent decades in prison for the death of an Edmonton woman says his charge has been stayed. Innocence Canada says Roy Allan Sobotiak was to appear in court Friday to set a date for his new trial, but says the Crown Prosecution Service stayed his second-degree murder charge. Lawyer James Lockyer says the group was 'delighted' by the news and believes this is the longest a wrongly convicted person has spent in prison in Canada. Sobotiak was granted bail earlier this year for his 1991 life sentence in the 1987 murder of Susan Kaminsky after former federal justice minister Arif Virani ordered a new trial due to what he called a likely 'miscarriage of justice.' Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Lawyers for Alberta Justice had requested a judicial review, arguing that Virani provided no reasoning as to why a new trial was warranted. A spokesperson for the provincial government did not immediately return a request for comment. Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here .
Global News
02-08-2025
- Global News
Prosecutors stay charge for man convicted in 1987 killing, says Innocence Canada
The group representing an Alberta man who spent decades in prison for the death of an Edmonton woman says his charge has been stayed. Innocence Canada says Roy Allan Sobotiak was to appear in court Friday to set a date for his new trial, but says the Crown Prosecution Service stayed his second-degree murder charge. Lawyer James Lockyer says the group was 'delighted' by the news and believes this is the longest a wrongly convicted person has spent in prison in Canada. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Sobotiak was granted bail earlier this year for his 1991 life sentence in the 1987 murder of Susan Kaminsky after former federal justice minister Arif Virani ordered a new trial due to what he called a likely 'miscarriage of justice.' Lawyers for Alberta Justice had requested a judicial review, arguing that Virani provided no reasoning as to why a new trial was warranted.
CTV News
02-08-2025
- CTV News
Prosecutors stay charge for man convicted in 1987 killing, says Innocence Canada
A courtroom at the Edmonton Law Courts building in Edmonton on Friday, June 28, 2019. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson The group representing an Alberta man who spent decades in prison for the death of an Edmonton woman says his charge has been stayed. Innocence Canada says Roy Allan Sobotiak was to appear in court Friday to set a date for his new trial, but says the Crown Prosecution Service stayed his second-degree murder charge. Lawyer James Lockyer says the group was 'delighted' by the news and believes this is the longest a wrongly convicted person has spent in prison in Canada. Sobotiak was granted bail earlier this year for his 1991 life sentence in the 1987 murder of Susan Kaminsky after former federal justice minister Arif Virani ordered a new trial due to what he called a likely 'miscarriage of justice.' Lawyers for Alberta Justice had requested a judicial review, arguing that Virani provided no reasoning as to why a new trial was warranted. A spokesperson for the provincial government did not immediately return a request for comment. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 2, 2025. Aaron Sousa, The Canadian Press
CBC
23-05-2025
- CBC
Man convicted of murdering Edmonton woman in 1987 seeks bail
Social Sharing A man accused of murdering an Edmonton woman more than three decades ago is seeking bail, months after his conviction was quashed by the federal justice minister. Roy Allan Sobotiak, 62, is set to appear before a bail hearing Friday morning in Edmonton's Court of King's Bench. Sobotiak has served more than 35 years behind bars for the killing of 34-year-old Susan Kaminsky, an Edmonton mother who disappeared in 1987. To this day, her body has never been found. Sobotiak was granted a new trial in February by then federal Justice Minister Arif Virani who concluded there were reasonable grounds to believe that a "miscarriage of justice" had occurred during the case. Sobotiak has been receiving legal assistance from Innocence Canada, a non-profit organization that advocates against wrongful convictions. Virani said a new trial was necessary due to new information that was not before the courts at the time of Sobotiak's trial or appeal. The federal justice department declined to comment on the new evidence but has said the new trial was called after a close examination of the case. In response to the call for a new trial, Alberta applied for a judicial review contesting the decision. In his submission for a judicial review, Alberta Attorney General Mickey Amery argued that his federal counterpart provided no reason — written or otherwise — to support his findings that a new trial is warranted. Without a trace Kaminsky disappeared in February 1987 after a night out with friends at a north Edmonton pub. Her car was found abandoned the following day. Police determined Sobotiak was the last person to see her alive. Kaminsky once babysat Sobotiak when he was a child. Investigators suspected foul play but no charges were laid until 1989 when Sobotiak, then 26, was charged with first-degree murder. Sobotiak was convicted of second-degree murder in 1991 and sentenced to life imprisonment with no eligibility for parole for 16½ years. The principal evidence against him was taped statements he made to an undercover police officer in which he boasted that he had tortured, sexually assaulted, killed, and dismembered Kaminsky in his mother's basement before disposing of her body. He also confessed to the murder during a police interrogation, but later changed his story. Sobotiak, who has been serving his sentence at a federal penitentiary in Alberta, has since maintained his innocence. He previously launched unsuccessful appeals to both the Alberta Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court of Canada. Innocence Canada, which helped Sobotiak apply for a new trial, said in February that the 62-year-old has always insisted his innocence. The non-profit organization said four of its lawyers assisted Sobotiak in his application to the federal justice minister.
