Innocence Canada Seeks Justice for Wrongly Convicted, Works to Prevent Further Cases

SINCE ITS FOUNDING IN 1993, INNOCENCE CANADA, a non-profit based in Toronto, has helped to exonerate 30 innocent people who were wrongfully convicted of murder. The group’s mission is “to identify, advocate for and support the exoneration of individuals who have been convicted of a crime they did not commit and to prevent wrongful convictions through legal education, advocacy, and justice reform.”

In the most recent case, two men, Bobby Mailman and Wally Gillespie, had their convictions overturned in January 2024,  40 years after their imprisonment for a 1983 murder they did not commit. Both men were sentenced to life in prison by a New Brunswick court, despite statements from multiple witnesses placing them miles from the murder scene. Attorneys at Innocence Canada worked on the case for six years, arguing that the prosecution had wrongfully failed to provide the defense with critical evidence that could have changed the outcome of the case. In addition to the exoneration, the two men received an undisclosed amount in compensation from the New Brunswick government. Gillespie passed away several months later at the age of 80. Mailman, who is 77, has been diagnosed with terminal cancer. 

Those seeking assistance from Innocence Canada must meet two eligibility criteria: wrongful conviction of a homicide offense and unsuccessful appeal of the conviction to a provincial court of appeal or the Supreme Court of Canada. Case review by staff attorneys and volunteer lawyers takes several years. Only those cases which reveal new evidence or information are considered for further investigation.

A registered charitable organization, Innocence Canada relies heavily on donations to cover expenses such as private investigators, forensic testing, expert witnesses, court fees,
travel costs, and transcripts of proceedings.

Members of the LexisNexis Canada content team in Toronto recently took part in a RELX Cares charity walk to support Innocence Canada, raising $1250 in donations from both
office-based and home-based employees. RELX Cares supports employee and corporate engagement that makes a positive impact on society through volunteerism and giving, including efforts that support the rule of law. As part of its commitment to volunteerism, LexisNexis provides two paid volunteer days to employees each year.

LexisNexis supports the rule of law around the world by:

• Providing products and services that enable customers to excel in the practice and business of law and help justice systems, governments, and businesses to function more effectively, efficiently, and transparently
• Documenting local, national and international laws and making them accessible in print and online to individuals and professionals in the public and private sectors
• Partnering with governments and non-profit organizations to help make justice systems more efficient and transparent and
• Supporting corporate citizenship initiatives that strengthen civil society and the rule of law across the globe.