WINNIPEG – Canada’s highest court will decided whether Canadace Derksen’s alleged killer deserves a new trial.
Mark Grant was convicted of second degree murder by a jury in 2011 of killing 13 year old Derksen back in 1984. Derksen was grabbed off the street while walking home from school. Her body was found bound in a shed months later. Her murder was one of Manitoba’s most infamous cold cases until Grant was arrested using DNA evidence in 2007.
Manitoba’s Court of Appeal ordered a new trial last fall. It ruled the judge made mistakes that meant the jury did not hear all the evidence. Part of that evidence includes a theory that could point to a different killer.
Now the Supreme Court of Canada has agreed to make a final ruling on whether to overturn Grant’s conviction. If it does, Manitoba Justice would have to give Grant the new trial or let him walk free.
No date has been set for the hearing to begin in Ottawa. It is likely months, even a year away.
Grant remains in custody but is eligible to apply for bail.
(CJOB)
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