Manitoba justice, the inquiry regarding thomas sophonow. Thomas sophonow thomas sophonow was tried three times in the 1981 murder of doughnutshop clerk barbara stoppel. Barbara stoppels murder causes of thomas wrongful conviction justice served citations thomas sophonow why. The inquiry has proceeded on the basis that it was not thomas sophonow who committed the murder.
See the inquiry regarding thomas sophonow, available at. This case was chosen because it exemplifies a successful instance of knowledge mobilization and it clearly involved multiple genres from different domains. Conviction of david milgaard, the thomas sophonow inquiry report and the royal. Thomas sophonow, who was tried three times for the murder of barbara stoppel, and convicted twice before finally being acquitted, is offering a reward to anyone who can tell him what the new. Legislative assembly of manitoba debates and proceedings. The inquiry regarding thomas sophonow, hereafter referred to as the sophonow inquiry. Thomas sophonow innocents database of exonerations. Commission of inquiry in canada and the united states a the morin. An inquiry was held, with a report released on november 5, 2001. The inquiry regarding thomas sophonow the investigation, prosecution and consideration of entitlement to compensation. Sophonow participated in the inquiry but revealed himself as a deeply troubled man. The rcmp are claiming the same reasons for the downfall of. The inquiry regarding thomas sophonow table of contents introduction the facts giving rise to the inquiry, software the apps thomas sophonow inquiry pdf converter authorizing order in council, scarica its nature and scope trials thomas sophonow inquiry pdf converter and appeals of thomas sophonow jurisdiction and terms of reference of the. After three trials and nearly four years in custody, the guilty.
The sophonow inquiry was based on the wrongful conviction of thomas sophonow who was accused of the murder of barbara stoppel in 1981. The commission on proceedings involving guy paul morin, hereafter referred to as the morin inquiry. I take responsibility for any errors and welcome your feedback for correction. See the inquiry regarding thomas sophonow the investigation, prosecution and consideration of entitlement to compensation winnipeg. This page contains a form to search the supreme court of canada case information database. Sophonow has personality disorders, says expert cbc news. Jailhouse informants, their unreliability and the importance of complete crown disclosure pertaining to them 2001 hereinafter sophonow inquiry. This book is based on first hand interviews, sworn testimony, court documents, transcripts from all three trials and the public inquiry.
The sophonow inquiry is a public inquiry in response to the wrongful conviction and incarceration of thomas sophonow from winnipeg, who spent four years in prison. There was an official inquiry into sophonow s case. The use of incentivized testimony innocence project. His conviction was overturned by the manitoba court of appeal in 1985 and, in 2000, the winnipeg police service officially cleared sophonow of the murder. Sophonow hurt in prison, wife says the globe and mail. That was the testimony from a british forensic psychologist monday, at the sophonow inquiry. Aidwyc was granted standing at the sophonow inquiry manitoba, convened june 2000. The investigation, prosecution and consideration of entitlement to compensation, was released in november 2001. May 20, 2016 perhaps the most wellknown wrongful conviction in canada is that of thomas sophonow, who was wrongfully convicted of murdering 16yearold barbara stoppel. Public inquiries terms of reference 321 ronda bessner emphasizes the role of public inquiries in educating the public. Speaker, we did so for three very important reasons. Thomas sophonow was tried three times in the 1981 murder of doughnutshop clerk barbara stoppel. Thomas sophonow inquiry report recommendations province of. It was not thomas sophonow who went out of the donut shop, crossed the norwood bridge and threw over the railing the box, the twine and the gloves.
Sophonow had an alibi and was not officially exonerated until 2000. It was not thomas sophonow who was in the ideal donut shop sometime between 8. In addition, before showing the photo pack to a witness, the officer should advise the witness that it is just as important to clear the innocent as it is to identify the suspect. The inquiry report identified outdated investigation techniques as well as tunnel vision as being part of the problem. Inquiry 2010 36 queens lj 161 is an analysis of one such instance. Thomas sophonow was accused of murdering a young waitress who worked in a donut shop in winnipeg, manitoba. The investigation, prosecution and consideration of entitlement to compensation. Anatomy of a public inquiry publishing at the university of alberta. Trials and appeals of thomas sophonow jurisdiction and terms of reference of the commission of inquiry notice standing witnesses rules of practice and procedure factual background the role of police officers. Commission of inquiry regarding thomas sophonow manitoba justice, province of manitoba. All around the commonlaw world, criminal justice systems. The inquiry regarding thomas sophonow table of contents introduction the facts giving rise to the inquiry, the authorizing order in council, its nature and scope trials and appeals of thomas sophonow jurisdiction and terms of reference of the commission of inquiry notice standing witnesses rules of practice and procedure.
On december 23, 1981, 16 year old barbara stoppel was brutally murdered while working at the ideal donut shop in winnipeg, manitoba. Province of manitoba manitoba justice publications thomas sophonow inquiry not know who the suspect is or whether his photo is contained in the lineup. Based on the findings of a winnipeg police service reinvestigation of the murder of barbara stoppel, attorney general gord mackintosh has issued an apology to thomas sophonow, the person previously charged, convicted and acquitted in the case, and has announced a. Ryans commission on capital punishment2, 4 symposium, preventing wrongful convictions. Jury instructions in those wrongful conviction cases documented by the. Attorney general gord mackintosh today released the report of the inquiry into the arrest and prosecution of thomas sophonow and unveiled a 10point action plan to implement the 11 recommendations that require a provincial response. Speaker, i certainly know this government established a commission of inquiry in cooperation with the chief of police who issued an apology to mr. Cory, into the wrongful conviction of thomas sophonow the sophonow. As would be brought to light many years later, thomas sophonow had an ironclad. Thomas sophonow, who was wrongfully convicted of murder decades ago, was in calgary monday to watch his sons.
Province of manitoba news releases sophonow inquiry. This survey was submitted to the national institute of justice, us. An inquiry into sophonow s case by the government of manitoba was begun in 2000 and the thomas sophonow inquiry report was issued in 2001. Sophonow suggests putting his lawyer beyond his reach at winnipeg inquiry. Jury instructions in those wrongful conviction cases documented by the center on wrongful convictions, juries. Thomas sophonow born march 1953 is a canadian who was wrongfully convicted of murder and whose case was the subject of a major judicial inquiry. On several occasions, he emitted angry outbursts at his own lawyers or the legal system as a whole. I also utilized published newspaper articles from across canada. The inquiry into thomas wrongful conviction determined that the police succumbed to tunnel vision at an early stage of the investigation into barbaras murder, causing them to focus on thomas sophonow as the killer to the exclusion of all others and fail to accept any evidence or explanation that was contrary to their theory. Thomas sophonow has had similar experiences to others who have been wrongfully convicted in britain. Based on the findings of a winnipeg police service reinvestigation of the murder of barbara stoppel, attorney general gord mackintosh has issued an apology to thomas sophonow, the person previously charged, convicted and acquitted in the case, and has announced a full. That report, entitled the inquiry regarding thomas sophonow.
Winnipeg a public inquiry is scheduled to resume monday to determine how much money thomas sophonow should get for being wrongfully convicted twice of murder. In 1985, he was acquitted by the manitoba court of appeal. Arrest, trials, and appeals on december 23, 1981, sixteenyearold barbara stoppel was alone. A survey of ontario police officers swinburne research bank. Reexamining fundamental principles of criminal law. Wrongful convictions ministry of the attorney general. Justice cory in his report of the the inquiry regarding thomas sophonow. The inquiry regarding thomas sophonow 2001 edition. We subsequently announced the inquiry with justice cory. The inquiry regarding thomas sophonow, the commission report from the. Mike kipling in kiplings court martial for refusing to take an anthrax vaccination prior to the first gulf war. All information collected was duplicated post retirement. Thomas sophonow inquiry pdf converter download 2020. Province of manitoba, the inquiry regarding thomas sophonow 4 report of the former governor george h.
The sophonow inquiry was based on the wrongful conviction of thomas sophonow who was accused of the murder of barbara stoppel. Thomas sophonow, cleared of 1981 murder, attends his sons. Sophonow inquiry the sophonow inquiry was based on the wrongful conviction of thomas sophonow who was accused of the murder of barbara stoppel in 1981. Winnipeg cp thomas sophonow, whose problems with lawyers have become legend, suggested tuesday he shouldnt be directing the next one set to represent him at an inquiry into his wrongful conviction instead, he suggested lawyer peter wilson be appointed to act for. There was intensive media coverage, not only of the crime, but also the investigation. This inquiry looked into the wrongful convictions of greg parsons, ronald dalton and randy druken. Police interviews with thomas sophonow in vancouver. Public inquiries into the wrongful thomas sophonow inquiry pdf converter convictions of thomas sophonow manitoba and guy paul morin ontario document the dangers of relying on the evidence of incustody informers. You can search by the scc 5digit case number, by name or word in. As with many wrongful convictions, eyewitness evidence was a major component of the investigation and the court case. Nov 05, 2001 province acting with 10point plan, compensation for sophonow, stoppel family. As mentioned in the inquiry report, dangerfield failed to disclose important information to the. Jailhouse informants comprise the most deceitful and deceptive group of witnesses known to frequent the courts.
You can search by the scc 5digit case number, by name or word in the style of cause, or by file number from the appeal court. After that revelation yesterday, the hearing went behind closed. Exploring the role of police misconduct within canadian wrongful. As a result of that inquiry, a great deal of information became available, and terry arnold a much more viable suspect emerged. The sophonow inquiry canada thomas sophonow was convicted of a murder in winnipeg, manitoba based largely on eyewitness evidence. The inquiry regarding thomas sophonow 2001 edition open. The more notorious the case, the greater the number of prospective informants.
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