David Milgaard

4 Pages 1085 Words

If one was asked to think of a phrase to describe the case of David Milgaard the only phrase which would be suitable and appropriate would be: “at the wrong place, at the wrong time”. His trial was one full of corruption, dishonesty by witnesses and the legal system. It showed that the justice system was unable of providing Mr. Milgaard with a fair and equal trial during this tragic story.

In the early hours of January 31st, 1969 Gail Miller a 22-year-old nursing assistant living in Saskatoon was found in an alley way. She had been raped, stabbed twelve times and left for dead. The rape was found to have occurred after she died. The police had little evidence; few clues had been left behind. There had been other attacks in the same area. Authorities tried to suppress the information that linked the Miller rape and murder to the two other assaults.

David Milgaard had decided to take a trip out to Alberta, along with two of his friends, Ron Wilson and Nichol John. Along the way David wanted to stop through Saskatoon to pick up another friend, Shorty Cadrain. Once they got to Saskatoon they drove around not really knowing where they were going. They stopped to help someone out of a snow bank, and got stuck themselves; this is when Milgaard ripped his pants, something that came into evidence against him. When they finally arrived at Cadrain's home, David changed his pants, and they left to go to Alberta. Larry Fisher who was later convicted of this crime (Miller's murder) was staying in the same home as Cadrain at the time. Some time after returning from their short trip to Alberta, Cadrain heard about the $2000 reward for information into Miller's death. Cadrain went to the police with a version of what happened that night. He had been questioned earlier and had no information to give at that time, this time his statement is what made Milgaard a suspect in the case. Within the report Cadrain gave to the police he said Milgaard h...