David Milgaard, R.I.P.

David Milgaard, who spent more than 20 years in prison for a murder he did not commit before spending his remaining years trying to prevent injustices against others, died yesterday of complications of pneumonia. Milgaard was 69. He spent 23 years in prison - exactly one-third of his life. 

His name might not mean much to most Americans, but if you are a Canadian of a certain age Milgaard's name is one you will never forget. Milgaard was accused of murdering a nurse while visiting Saskatoon in January 1969 and would be sentenced to life in prison the following year at the age of 17. 

The case came to national attention in Canada in the late 1980's through the tireless efforts of his mother Joyce Milgaard. In 1990, when Milgaard's mother approached then Minister of Justice (and future Prime Minister) Kim Campbell about her son's case, Campbell tersely brushed her off leaving the elder Milgaard in tears.

The ensuing public backlash against Campbell would eventually force her to refer Milgaard's case to The Supreme Court of Canada who upon reviewing the case recommended the conviction against Milgaard be set aside. Campbell then ordered a new trial for Milgaard. However, the Government of Saskatchewan stayed the proceedings which would see Milgaard released from prison in April 1992.

However, it would be five more years before Milgaard would be exonerated through DNA evidence. It would be DNA evidence which would convict Larry Fisher of Miller's murder. While Fisher would be sentenced to life in prison he served only 15 years before passing away in 2015. Milgaard spent 8 more years behind bars than the man who actually killed Miller.

In 1999, Milgaard was given compensation by the Government of Canada and Government of Saskatchewan in the amount of $10 million. Both Milgaard and his mother devoted their lives to freely the wrongfully convicted until she passed away in March 2020. 

While Milgaard would never get those 23 years back, he made the most of the time he had and spent much of that time in service of others who had nowhere else to turn. R.I.P.