In Canada and around the world, there are far too many incidents of wrongful conviction. Steven Truscott, David Milgaard, Guy Paul Morin, and many, many more. Sentenced to years, sometimes decades, for crimes they did not commit.
With recent cases in Ontario of a certain pathologist (I believe his name was Dr. Smith) who sent an estimated 25 people to jail for crimes they did not commit as a result of his trial testimonies, I feel it is time to start holding these "professionals" accountable. Enough is enough. Reports have come out whereby it is alleged that the police had overlooked crucial evidence, even doctored evidence in some cases, and incidents of complete negligence and incompetence on the part of certain prosecutors (think back to the infamous Regina v. Klassen case that came out of Martensville, Saskatchewan), have me saying enough is enough. We must start imposing penalties: suspensions from the Bar (lawyer), or force (justice of the peace), hefty fines - say 20,000 dollars per year spent in jail if person later found innocent.
It is entirely unfair that the prosecutors and police officers have the full backing of the provincial government (read: as much money as they need) and yet be so incompetent. Imagine an innocent defendant, his/her name sullied in the media, their family stigmatized, having to remortgage their house to pay for legal bills to clear themselves from an unfair charge or conviction. This is very unfair.
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