Saint John Police Review Uncertain After Exoneration of Two Men in Murder Case
A year after two men were exonerated, the Saint John police review remains incomplete and unanswered.
Saint John, New Brunswick, Robert Mailman, Walter Gillespie, Innocence Canada
Saint John: It’s been over a year since the police chief promised a review of the officers’ actions in the wrongful conviction of Robert Mailman and Walter Gillespie. But guess what? There’s still no report in sight.
Back in January 2024, Chief Robert Bruce announced a thorough review after the men were exonerated for a 1983 murder they didn’t commit. The whole thing came to light after a judge pointed out serious issues with their original trial.
Bruce hired a retired RCMP officer, Allen Farrah, to lead this independent review. But here we are, a year later, and the police still haven’t given any updates on when it’ll be done. Staff Sgt. Matt Weir said they don’t have a timeline, and Farrah isn’t talking either.
Even the new Liberal Premier, Susan Holt, is asking where the report is. She’s worried about the implications of the wrongful convictions and wants to ensure it doesn’t happen again.
Innocence Canada, the group that fought for the men’s exoneration, pointed out that the original convictions were riddled with problems, like police bias and key evidence being ignored. They even revealed that a witness was paid off, which wasn’t disclosed during the trial.
James Lockyer from Innocence Canada called the case a disgrace, saying it seemed like the police were more interested in getting a conviction than finding the truth.
Mailman and Gillespie eventually reached a settlement with the New Brunswick government, but sadly, Gillespie passed away shortly after. Mailman, who is now battling terminal cancer, fears he might never see the results of the review or get an apology from the police.
He believes they were unfairly targeted because of their pasts and worries that without accountability, more innocent people could suffer the same fate. It’s a tough situation, and it’s hard to see how things will change without some serious reflection from the police.