Romeo Phillion, jailed for 32 years after wrongful murder conviction, has died

An Ontario man who spent 32 years in prison for a crime he didn’t commit died Monday morning.

The Association in Defence of the Wrongly Convicted announced Romeo Phillion’s death Tuesday morning. Phillion spent 32 years in prison after being wrongfully convicted in the murder of an Ottawa firefighter in 1972.

“We extend our heartfelt condolences to Romeo’s family, friends and supporters for their significant loss. Romeo will never be forgotten for his fighting spirit, sense of humour, support of other wrongly convicted and for his boyish and captivating charm,” the association said in a statement.

“Romeo did what he could to draw attention to the devastation that a wrongful conviction imposes on the innocent individual and their family.”

The Supreme Court of Canada had cleared in the way February for Phillion’s $14-million lawsuit against the police and the Crown over his more than three decades behind bars.

READ MORE: Romeo Phillion sues for $14 million for wrongful murder conviction in 1972

Phillion, who was in his mid-70s, was convicted of second-degree murder in the death of Ottawa firefighter Leopold Roy, based on a confession he recanted almost immediately.

In 2009, the Ontario Court of Appeal quashed the conviction and ordered a new trial, but the Crown withdrew the charge, saying too much time had passed.

The Appeal Court found that police had initially verified an alibi showing Phillion’s innocence but never told the defence about it.