A Quebec judge has granted bail to a man who has spent 33 years behind bars for four murders, after concerns were raised about the fairness of his trial.
Daniel Jolivet’s case is being examined by a federal panel for a possible miscarriage of justice. In the meantime, Quebec Superior Court Justice Lyne Décarie announced on Friday at the Montreal courthouse that Jolivet will be released from prison pending the outcome of the review.
Jolivet, 68, was convicted on two counts of first-degree murder and two counts of second-degree murder in 1994 in Brossard, Que., south of Montreal.
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In June, the Crown wrote to Jolivet’s lawyer to say it had reasonable grounds to conclude that the accused did not receive a fair and equitable trial. In October, the federal government announced there were reasonable grounds to believe a miscarriage of justice had occurred in the case and the Justice Department’s criminal conviction review group will investigate.
After the judge read her decision, Jolivet’s lawyer Nicholas St-Jacques told reporters his client will finally be able to “breathe outside” after 33 years in prison. “For Mr. Jolivet … he’ll have a real life, to have a life with people whom he loves, to be able to enjoy the small little things that we enjoy everyday.”
St-Jacques said he had been working on the case for 17 years. “This is probably the best day of my career,” he said.
Prosecutor Lina Thériault said both the Crown and defence had consented to have Jolivet released pending the review of his case.
St-Jacques said that review could take up to five years.
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