Journalist's probe helped re-open Truscott case
Feb. 5 2007
CTV.ca News Staff
As a producer at CBC TV's the fifth estate, Julian Sher spent two years investigating the Steven Truscott story for an explosive documentary. He uncovered a wealth of information that could have led to a different verdict for Truscott, who was sentenced to hang for the murder of Lynne Harper.
That information was handed over to Truscott's defence team, who presented a 700-page brief to the federal justice minister in a bid to have the conviction re-examined.
Now, 10 years later, the Ontario Court of Appeal is reviewing the case, and may acquit Truscott of the killing and allow him to finally clear his name.
Sher wrote a book on his look into Truscott story, called Until You Are Dead: Steven Truscott's Long Ride into History. He says he can understand why the case has captured the fascination of so many Canadians.
"You have a story of a man and his family who has stood firm, who is trying to clear his name, but also give his name to his children. You have the devoted wife who's worked so hard to clear his name," he told Canada AM.
"It's a symbol for the whole country. I get emails from children, high schools are reenacting the trial and trying to learn from this. this has become, in effect, the Canadian justice system on trial in these next few weeks."