A life 'defined by something he didn't do': David Milgaard, wrongfully convicted of murder, dies at 69 & More Trending News

David Milgaard, a person who spent 23 years in jail for a rape and homicide he didn’t commit, died in a Calgary hospital this weekend, sources near the household have confirmed.

He died after a short hospital keep from problems associated to pneumonia. 

Milgaard, 69, who had been residing in Cochrane, leaves behind two kids of their teenagers.

Those near Milgaard describe him as a gracious man who didn’t maintain onto anger or animosity.

Milgaard labored lately, to forestall related miscarriages of justice from occurring to others. 

‘Defined by something he didn’t do’

“He wanted to live life to the fullest with the time that was available to him and not carry a grudge,” stated Dr. Patrick Baillie, a psychologist who testified on Milgaard’s behalf at the Saskatchewan inquiry into his wrongful conviction in 2006.

“His life was always defined by something he didn’t do and he wanted the opportunity to define his life on the basis of the things that were important to him.”

In 1969, the Winnipeg man was 16 years outdated and passing by way of Saskatchewan with mates when Saskatoon nurse Gail Miller’s physique was discovered in a snowbank.

A 12 months after Miller was killed, Milgaard was convicted of her rape and homicide, and incarcerated from the ages of 16 to 39. 

Over the years, legal professionals have accused police of having “the worst kind of tunnel vision” through the investigation of the case. 

His mom Joyce, who died in 2020, by no means doubted her son’s innocence and collectively, they spent greater than 20 years combating to show his innocence. 

Without Joyce, Milgaard believed he would have been left to rot in jail and all the time credited her for serving to safe his freedom.

He was launched from jail in 1992, nevertheless it took a number of extra years earlier than he was exonerated. 

WATCH | David Milgaard case: Who killed Gail Miller?

In 1997, the emergence of new DNA proof linked infamous rapist Larry Fisher to the homicide. 

Fisher was convicted of the crime eight years later and sentenced to life in jail. He died in 2015 at the age of 65. 

Milgaard acquired a multi-million greenback compensation package deal from the federal authorities in 1999.

A ‘mild particular person’

Greg Rodin was one of the legal professionals who secured that compensation, however their relationship grew through the years and the 2 turned shut mates.

Rodin described Milgaard as a “loving, caring and gentle person.” 

“All those who knew and loved David are in a state of shock and great sadness,” stated Rodin in an e-mail to CBC News. “I will miss my friend greatly.”

Milgaard’s life work, stated Rodin, was his continued advocacy for jail reform.

“He showed us that we are all vulnerable to being wrongfully convicted,” stated Rodin.

Desire for ‘a quiet existence’

Milgaard, stated Rodin, believed the present penal system can be vastly improved if it was designed to resemble an Indigenous justice mannequin.

Most just lately Milgaard was working intently with Federal Justice Minister David Lametti to ascertain a fee which might examine instances the place wrongful conviction was claimed.

Milgaard did this though his advocacy saved his wrongful conviction entrance and centre to his public identification.

When Baillie testified at the wrongful conviction inquiry, he informed Justice Edward MacCallum that Milgaard would all the time be compelled to hold the burden of the wrongful conviction. 

“David wants to be a father to his children, David wants to be married to his wife, David wants to have just a quiet existence,” Baillie informed the inquiry.

“But even if David became prime minister, the day that David dies, the first line of his obituary is going to be ‘David Milgaard, who spent 23 years in prison for a wrongful conviction and later went on to become Prime minister…’”

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