Justice not blind but blinded

In 1967, a jury wrongfully convicted Rubin "Hurricane" Carter of the murder of three people in a New Jersey bar. Sentenced to life imprisonment, his chance at the world middle-weight boxing title vanished.

While incarcerated, he was refused outside medical attention and a botched operation left him blind in one eye. In total, he spent 19 years of his life behind bars before his conviction was thrown out in 1985.

Last Monday, Carter - who has since made Canada his home - met with Guy Paul Morin at the Toronto Don Jail. Afterward, he spoke out publicly about why he has joined the campaign to have Morin released on bail pending his appeal. (Morin was acquitted of sexually assaulting and murdering Christine Jessop, his 9-year-old neighbor, at his first trial in 1986. Last summer, a second jury convicted him.)

Says Carter, "Prison is a terrible, terrible place. It affects and infects every fibre of your being and once you've spent time there, you'll never be the same again. When there's a conviction shrouded in so much doubt as is the case with Guy Paul Morin, justice, compassion and human decency demand that he be allowed to remain at liberty until his appeal is finally decided."

Carter points out that there are important parallels between his case and Morin's. In both instances, key witnesses were criminals with extensive records who "had everything to gain and nothing to lose" by agreeing to testify for the prosecution.

As well, in both cases, the prosecution failed to share important information with defence lawyers. One of the reasons Carter's conviction was finally quashed was because, in the words of the judge, the case against him had been based on "concealment rather than disclosure."

Toronto Star

8 February 1993, p. A15

© 1993 Donna Laframboise