The Herald reports that a Canadian Supreme Court judge has recommended that David Bain receive compensation for wrongful imprisonment.
The Bain case has attracted huge attention over the years, and it seems there are few people who don't have an opinion on whether or not Bain murdered his family. I have never been certain, and while I thought there was enough doubt to justify the jury's decision to acquit, I accept that others will look at the circumstances of the case and conclude that the killer cannot have been anyone other than Bain.
However, we don't decide these things via opinion polls, nor should we. Bain has been acquitted, and now an independent legal expert has determined that he's probably innocent. Bain has now done everything required under our legal system to establish his innocence, so perhaps it's time we accept that he is.
If we accept that Bain is innocent, then he deserves to be compensated for all those lost years in prison. If I were jailed for almost 13 years for something I didn't do I would expect to receive millions. Not that money can ever fully compensate for the hell of prison.
Monday, September 10, 2012
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The report will be interesting and Judith Collins has said that after it has been considered by cabinet it will be published.
ReplyDeleteYou wrote about 'the hell of prison.' Somehow I think whatever David is paid, if he in fact is compensated which I expect, and if given the choice of the money or the time in prison - he'd only have one answer.
Seems in NZ that you can get away with murder - and hit and run (if you come from the right side of town).
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