Do you believe Steven Truscott deserves compensation from the government?
Yes 91% No 9%
I think people who are railroaded or victimized by government agencies should first seek compensation from the individuals in the institutions or police forces that misused their influence. I am tired of the tax base paying for some silly servants abuse of power. The only way to make the system more accountable is to make the people inside more liable. This applies to Truscott and definitely to Arar.
Wayne - Kitchener, ON
Justice system...HA...yes, Steven Truscott should most definitely receive compensation...how much? At the very least 10 times what Maher Arar received for injustice. 50 times more would certainley be real justice. Steven Truscott suffered more injustice than anyone ever has and the system surely owes him. I hope his wonderful lawyer gets as much justice in the settlement has he has finally received in this case.
Therese
Milions of dollars will be a small price for the wasted youth, hopes, health...in a word for the life of a man wrongfully accused. And it is not the jury's fault but of those who handled and presented the Truscott's case.
Nicoleta Stancu - Ottawa, ON
There isn't enough money in the country to make up for what our so-called justice system did to Steven Truscott! Was it not enough for the police and the justice system of 1959 to make their endless line of ridiculous and obstinate errors but that for all these years the system continued, as a horse with blinders on, to refuse to see the logical and obvious truth and not only to refuse to admit they were wrong but to continue to fight against Mr. Truscott? We not only took away his childhood but made that childhood one of horror. How can we compensate him for that? No matter how much we give him, and it better be by far the greatest settlement, by many millions, ever awarded in this country, it will never be enough to erase our guilt and our shame. I also ask why all of Canada knew Steven Truscott was innocent but the government and the prosecution could not see the obvious? Where were their heads? Thank you for giving me the opportunity to do a little venting, something I've wanted to do for 48 years!
Sandra Burkitt - Yarmouth, NS
This man deserves the largest payout recorded. For almost 50 years he has endured our legal system. Unfortunately Lynn Harper's family has suffered for the same 50 years with no relief. Life is not fair! It would be nice if our society could help both families.
Ron Pocklington
I say 50 million is a small price to pay for Mr Truscott's life, such as it was. After all, I believe the government wastes a lot more than that per year.
D. Perry - Kingston, ON
Of course Mr.Truscott should receive compensation. He is a victim of our self serving judicial establishment. If Arar can take us for 10 million, just for being tortured for one year by his fellow Syrian citizens,then Mr. Truscott should be compensated in the amount of 48 million, one million for each year of his terrible ordeal.
Patrick
Mr. Truscott definitely needs to be compensated for the travesty imposed on him. As to a dollar amount? I'm glad I don't have to be making the decision on this one! My first reaction is 500K for every year since he was arrested, so about 25M. However, I think that the government of Canada needs to make a fair offer right now and keep it the heck out of the courts. ( I think this innocent man has had enough court dealings for one lifetime). Let's let Mr. Truscott get on with his life.
Pat - Carrot River, SK
Yes most definitely! Since I was a young child I always believed he was innocent. As far as compensation goes, this should not even be up for discussion, our government should comply to what his lawyer is asking for. How much? Minimum 10 million! Congratulations Steve!
N. Bilodeau
I believe Steven Truscott should receive - AT A MINIMUM - $350,000 per year for EACH of his 49 years of suffering through this.
Dianne Morgan - Regina, SK
I believe Steven Truscott deserves a minimum of 10 million dollars.....Steven was denied the choice of having an education.......Steven was in prison for 10 years for a crime that he did not commit.......Steven had to have suffered an enourmous amount of anguish over the death sentence imposed on him at such a young age.....his childhood was taken from him also.
Mary
The ongoing misguided actions of the "Crown" in their unrelenting prosecution to ensure the status quo is maintained must be recognized. There is no dollar figure that could bring back to Mr. Truscott his lost childhood or the many years of a cloud over his name. The further travesty, as a result of the Crown's ongoing tunnel vision, is the injustice to the family of Lynn Harper. This family's suffering also needs to be recognized by the Attorney General's Office. Additionally the organization which has never wavered in their unrelenting quest to ensure this travesty of Canadian injustice comes to an end also needs to be recognized as should recognition be afforded in memory of Isabel LeBourdais. A donation of $10 Million dollars, in the name of and in honour of Steven Truscott, to the "Association In Defense Of The Wrongly Convicted". A donation of $10 Million dollars to an organization to be determined by the Family of Lynn Harper. A donation of $1 Million dollars, in the name of Steven Truscott, in Memory of Isabel LeBourdais, to be determined by the LeBourdais Family. A Canadian Passport be issued immediately in the name of Steven Truscott with written confirmation that Steven Truscott's "name" has been returned to him. Mr. Truscott receive $1 Million dollars for each of the years he was incarcerated and additionally $1 Million dollars for each month he was on "death row" - tax free! How do you determine a dollar figure - it will never will never bring back to the Truscott Family, the Harper Family the injustice and travesty of this shameful blot of the Canadian justice system - it is to be hoped that all involved in our legal system carefully review what has occurred and learn from it.
Lynn Raback - Minden, ON
Steven Truscott deserves compensation for 49 years of hell. It is beyond compassionate comprehension that a court of law sentenced a 14 year old child to death by hanging. It is beyond outrage that the Crown stonewalled and stalled in the light of compelling additional evidence. Mr. Truscott deserves a SINCERE apology (not the token one dished out yesterday) and compensation for his loss of freedom, reputation, innocence and youth. He quietly and determinedly fought his conviction with dignity and class. He will never have those 49 years of life left, but something to make the rest of his life easier is appropriate and necessary. I an not an actuary or accountant-I have no idea what price his travesty of justice should have, but it seems to me that the age of his incarceration, the circumstances surrounding it, and his earning capacity after his release should all be taken into account. I don't think something in the neighbourhood of Donald Marshall's settlement would be out of line. How much has his legal fight cost him? THAT absolutely should covered by the Crown. They dragged it out, after all.
He's earned the right to financial comfort.
Lisa MacColl - Kitchener, ON
I remember reading an article, back in the 60s, that disclosed how the timeline and many of the facts did not add up. Sure he should be compensated-big time! It is too bad that the people who manipulated the evidence against him were not paying for the compensation. Why has this taken so long?
Leslie - Quispamsis, NB
Steven should definately receive compensation; but so should the victim's family.By launching a vendetta to convict an innocent man, and refusing to look further, authorities let the guilty party get away with murder. Those authorities should be held accountable and should do jail time themselves.
Marian Webb
No amount of money can make up for the loss of his childhood and youth, but a million per year from the time he was 14 would be a start. More than that - all those law enforcement people responsible for ignoring evidence to get a conviction should be prosecuted. For them to go unpunished would be an injustice not only to Steven and his familyl, but to society as a whole and to the credibilitly of our so call fair justice system.
Leslie Scheele - Grande Prairie, AB
He should MOST DEFINITELY be given compensation!! Not only was he wrongly conficted, but he had to change his identity and live a lie for so long!! And this nightmare has taken a toll on his family as well. For this travesty to have continued for nearly fifty years.........no amount of money could compensate him enough, but several millions would be a good start!!
Leah Van Roessel - Whitby, ON
Compensation is in order when evidence seems clearly to be falsified and when dirty underwear is considered grounds for a murder conviction. How much compensation requires a review of similar cases, bearing in mind that most well paying jobs require a clear criminal record. Mr. Truscott has been limited in the amount of income he has been able to bring in. That said, I would be unwilling to give some incredibly large amount of punitive damages (5 000 000$) as in the end it is all taxpayer's money.
Kim - Dubreuilville, ON
Should Steven Truscott receive compensation? ABSOLUTELY! How much? How much is almost 50 years of your life worth? In my mind there isn't enough money to adequately compensate him. Giving him whatever he wants, whatever the amount, is justice. From all previous accounts of Mr. Truscott, he will be thoughtful, fair and considerate if and when he asks for compensation. He will undoubtedly be what our justice system wasn't to him. I'm surprised we aren't pressing for a complete reorg of our justice system - it's antiquated and prejudicial. Or how about just changing the name to the conviction system - that at least would be honest - not that I have an opinion. Thanks for listening.
Kelly-Sue Labus - Baden, ON
Any time there is a carriage of misjustice our government looses credibility and the public becomes less willing to trust their police. It seems ironic that Mr. Truscott had to fight 50 years to get some justice when the likes of Conrad Black, a person of wealth, may never see jail time. I would award him 20 mil.
Kelly Pericak
I believe Steven Truscott should be generously compensated for his 48 years of darkness. My two children are going to the same school his children attended and when my daughter was in grade nine one of the first things she brought to my attention was the fact that his daughters were there and they stood by their father. She then had all kinds of questions about the case. Therefore if it affected other children in the school, one can only imagine what his poor children had to endure. Personally I think he should receive at least $1,000,000 for every year of the 48. His family should also be included. Congratulations Steven!
Kellie - Rockwood, ON
It is truly disgusting that they are even debating whether Steven Truscott gets compensation or not.......He has been to hell and back and this should be an automatic payment .....This is in our area and have lived with this all our lives and justice needs to be served...Those who have been punished unjustly should be paid automatically......or is it who you are?
Nancy
It may serve our justice system better to feel the sting of re-allocated tax dollars as Mr. Truscott felt the sting of injustice. It seems that's the only way to ensure investigations are done correctly these days.
Katie Miller - North Bay, ON
I think definitely that Steven Truscott deserves compensation for the suffering that he has gone through over the years. Although it is hard to put a price upon one's lost childhood and their future, he does deserve something for what the justice system forced upon him unfairly. It is such a shame that it took so long for the courts to recognize that an unfair conviction took place, unforenately Steven Truscott is paying such a price for that.
K.L.
I absolutely believe that Steven Truscott should be compensated for this miscarriage of justice. No amount of money could ever fairly compensate him or his family for all the lost years of innocence. The family of Lynn Harper should also be compensated, they too were unfairly treated in that no one will ever be punished for the crime committed against their family, all because the judicial system in this case has failed all of them miserably!
Karen - Charlottetown, PEI
Mr. Truscott can never be compensated fairly for what happened to him but he certainly should get several millions.Finally the courts have treated Mr. Truscott fairly. Not only did he have to suffer as a youth but the Justice System has dragged the affair on mercilessly. This should have happened years ago after lsabel LeBourdais wrote her book on the case.
John Blakely - Ancaster, ON
Yes, absolutely there should be compensation for Steve Truscott. I suggest 50 million for the years and another 50 million for his lost childhood, being sentenced to hang at 14 years old, and the absolutely terrible miscarriage of justice from day one that his case has been. Sending support for the Truscotts and their wonderful aidwyc team.
Jeannie
Since David Milgaard received $10 million for his 23 years in jail - certainly an amount similar to that should be paid to Steven.
Catherine - Toronto, ON
Steven must be compensated $1 million dollars for every year since 1959. No one should have suffered the atrocities he has had to endure over the years especially in Canada. It is the Canadian governments fault for Steven misssing out on life since he was a 14 year old child. This is another blemish on our Canadian Government, and money will not make up for what Steven has experienced over these many years, but it may heal the pain.
Gloria Bertrand - Victoria, BC
It would be another travesty if he were not compensated. While we dwell on Mr Trucott's exoneration, what are we doing to find the real killer? The question we should be asking is what should be done to the police who investigated this crime and the lawyers who convicted him? Should they (police and lawyers) be allowed to get away with doing such a poor job on this investigation?
Yes. In addition, I'd make all prosecutors and judges suffer the same punishment they handed out to innocent people.
Gabriel Timar - Mississauga, ON
Does it seem fair that the innocent are incarcerated for 48 years? No, it is definitely not fair. But then, life in a Canadian prison is pretty cushy, no? Hmm, let's see...there's the three square meals a day, color television, time to work out, shelter from the elements (what about the homeless?). Oh yes, let's not forget, the opportunity to garner a law degree. The free medical, dental, this list goes on and on. Yes, you do not socialize with proper society nor contribute to or be part of it. Think of it, if you will, as boarding school and a time to find 'you know who', Jesus! And speaking of family? They visit, do they not? Mr. Truscott I beseech you, get a job. Please pay your taxes like the rest of us hard working citizens. Get on with life! And Canada...do get off the pity pot! You are going soft! Who pays for all of this? If you please, it is my tax dollars and yours. The Government is going to handover money, my money and yours. Prison life in here is pretty darn good, I say. Send me there anytime, even though I haven't done a crime. I have to work so very hard for what is mine!Mr. Truscott has his whole life ahead...what about our dead soldiers and the ones going to die in Afghanistan?
N. M. Fernandez
Yes ! And a heck of a lot and soon. After the Ontario Government has tortured this man for most of his life they had better make him extremely financially well off for his remaining life.
Dave - Muskoka, ON
First, let's keep in mind that the Truscott's have NEVER asked for compensation! Their goal has been for juSTice -- for the truth to be accepted by the various levels of government -- for the truth to be known to the public -- for their children to be free of the stigma attached to a wrongful conviction -- for Steve to go to bed at night with the knowledge that he was not branded a murderer by his country --for Steve and Marlene to be able to take a vacation outside the country -- for freedom. Do they deserve compensation? Damn right! ... but, therein lies the million dollar question! What is enough compensation? There could never be enough, but there is a reasonable measure. What is the formula for carelessly robbing a boy of his youth? What is the formula for forcing a family to live under an assumed name? What is the formula for compensating parents for having to explain such a travesty to their children? What is the formula for forcing a family to live under a cloud of despair? "Compensation" in this case is merely a demonstration of the SHAME over the lack of interest and action by the various levels of government over almost fifty years. In the Steven Truscott case, Canada is responsible for a violation of truth and trust within our own borders. Therefore, if we can pay Maher Arar millions in compensation for something that happened outside our borders and, to a large extent, beyond our control ...then, in my view, Steven Truscott deserves at least TWICE that (or more) -- keeping in mind that money can never compensate for what Canada, which he obviously continues to love, has done to him. The Truscott family deserve compensation at the highest level. Both Steven Truscott and Marlene Truscott should receive the Order of Canada ... for bravery, for their perseverance in the face of adversity, for their contribution to changes in the Canadian legal system, for their contribution to the changes in the manner in which the press views the police and reports on stories and for their patience and loyalty to this country. AND...when that "man" and "woman" of the year is toted in December 2007, Steve and Marlene should be at the top of the list, without any runners up ... esp not any of those horrid politicians!
Diana Lariviere - Ottawa
In response to your search for suggestions regarding compensation for Mr. Truscott I feel that there is no sum of money that can replace the losses Mr. Truscott has endured. Having made this statement, I would suggest that a minimum of 48 million dollars be given to Mr. Truscott---and it ALL be excempt from any taxes which could be applied. This would give Mr. Truscott and his family the means by which to live the remainder of their lives and pursue other lifetime goals which have remained elusive for the past 48 years. Does this seem a large sum? Perhaps, but would any Canadian willingly spend 48 years in a federal prison for a mere 1 million dollars per year? I would not.
Robert G. Poole - Edmonton, AB
There are many injustices in life that cannot be solved large amounts of money. We have the injustice against Mr. Truscott, the injustice against the deceased 12 year old child and now we will see injustice against the Canadian Public if tens of millions of dollars are given to quell the guilty conscience of the Canadian public. In my opinion, there should be a substantial pension given to Mr. Truscott to compensate for his suffering however, to burden the Taxpayer further with a payment of an amount of money Mr. Truscott could not hope to spend is also unjust.
Raymond G. Selbie
I was only 5 or 6 years old when Lynn Harper was murdered. As a child of 11 or 12, I delivered the Star Weekly in our community. I read a 2 or 3 page story in that paper about this case, and I have followed it ever since. It described factually how it would have been impossible for Mr. Truscott to have been the perpetrator of this crime. The point that was made that always stuck in my mind, was that the timeline didn't fit. Based on witness accounts, there was no way that he had enough time to get to the crime scene, kill Lynn and return to his community looking calm and collected after the fact. It seemed obvious to me, at age 11 or 12, and to the Star Weekly, that he was not guilty. How could the justice system miss this for 49 years?
Linda Wilton - Winnipeg
The man was wrongly convicted, he should be compensated for the foot dragging of the federal justice system. It is hard to comprehend how the federal justice system can allow these cases to drag on and on at the public's expense. An overhaul is sorely needed at the federal level. It is unacceptable for our civil servants to be allowed to perform in such a manner. There is no excuse for this,absolutely none. It just solidifies Canadians beliefs, that the federal government is blind to thier needs.
Lenny
I remember the Truscott case very well and followed it over the years. I have nothing but sympathy and admiration for this man and have always believed in his innocence. He and his family definitely deserve compensation.
Joan Kobus
I am so glad he has finally been exonerated. He should never have been tried or convicted. It was an abuse of power at the time. I was about the same age as Mr. Truscott and followed his story very closely over the years. There was no one in our class that believed he had done it. There was never any real evidence against this boy other than he was the last one to see her. How ridiculous. The trial was a sham as they did not allow people who had seen the girl alive after Steven had left her show evidence at his trial. Today he would never have been arrested at all. The fact that a lot of the "evidence" has gone missing shows this was a sham. There was never any hunt for anyone else. There was such a public outcry at the time that the authorities had to "get someone" quickly. I hope this eases Steven's burden somewhat. And your "darn tooten" the powers that be should pay some restitution to Steven for his youth spent in prison (and I can't imagine what he went through at that age). It was not just that it was an injustice but that the authorities of the time cooked up evidence against him and that is what should be paid for so that it would not and could not happen again (one can only hope). To Steven I can only say that I hope you will rest a little easier now and know that many of us out here never believed you did this crime. We hoped for your sake over the years that justice would be served when you could enjoy the knowledge that you were unjustly accused and be exonerated. I hope now you can have some peace of mind.
Annette P.
Are you kidding me? It's not a question of if but when. This young man had his life taken away from him and has handled it with great dignity.
B. Doyle
If Maher Arar received $10,000,000 compensation, Steven should get at least 5X that amount for the ordeal that he has endured for so many years.
Bill Clouthier
With respect to compensation: I suggest an amount based on calculation of all legal costs plus a fair cost for lost years/lost potential since he did not have the opportunity for continuing social and formal education as of age 14.
Betty - Guelph, ON
Yes , Mr. Truscott should be compensated . If it were up to me , given he spent 3 months on death row as a 14 yr old , I would ask for 1 million dollars for every year of his life that was effected by this tragedy . And this should be a wake up call for people who support the death penalty.
Mike - Belleville, ON
Yes, Mr. Truscott should receive compensation. His years of incarceration and the resulting psychological suffering that will remain with him demand it. If Maher Arar can get ten million dollars for a year in a Syrian jail and ALLEGED torture that has never been proven then Steven Truscott should get at least that.
Andrew Adams - Apple Hill, ON
I think that Mr. Truscott deserves compensation, but I would find it hard to say how much. How do you compensate someone for taking away that much of their life? Especially when he was in jail for most of his teenage years. You can never get that time of your life back, so how can you assign a cash value to it?
Adam - Dartmouth, NS
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