Clarence Woodhouse, one Indigenous man from Pinaymootang First Nation in Manitoba, Canada, don finally get justice after 50 long years. On Thursday, Manitoba’s chief justice, Glenn Joyal, tell am say him innocent and wrongly convicted of murder wey happen in 1973.
Woodhouse, wey be 72 years now, serve 12 years in prison for stabbing murder of one Winnipeg chef and father. But him always maintain say him no commit di crime. Innocence Canada, one organization wey dey fight for people wey be wrongly convicted, say Winnipeg Police fabricate confessions wey dem use to convict Woodhouse and three other Indigenous men.
Chief Justice Glenn Joyal apologize for di miscarriage of justice, saying systemic discrimination influence both police investigation and prosecution in dis case. Dis case no be isolated incident; it show di broader crisis of wrongful convictions and miscarriages of justice wey dey affect First Nations people in Manitoba.
Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs (AMC) call for comprehensive review of all murder convictions involving First Nations citizens in light of Woodhouse’s exoneration. Acting AMC Grand Chief Betsy Kennedy say di case highlight systemic flaws and biases in di justice system.
Manitoba’s Premier apologize and promise redress. Winnipeg Police also accept di decision and recognize di harm of wrongful convictions. Woodhouse’s case dey part of larger issue of racial bias in di justice system, and Innocence Canada dey work on similar cases in other provinces.
