Robert Baltovich
Encyclopedia
Robert Baltovich is a Canadian
man who was wrongly convicted in 1992 of the murder of his girlfriend, Elizabeth Bain, in Scarborough
, Ontario
, Canada
. He spent eight years in prison and nearly another decade trying to clear his name, before being found not guilty in a retrial on April 22 2008.
and history from the University of Toronto at Scarborough. There he met fellow student Elizabeth Bain and a relationship developed.
Bain disappeared on June 19, 1990 after telling her mother she was going to "check the tennis schedule" on campus. On June 22 her car was found with a large bloodstain in the back seat. Her body was never found.
was then known, might be responsible for the murder.
On March 31, 1992, Baltovich was convicted of second-degree murder. His lawyers appealed and on March 31, 2000, Baltovich was released on bail, pending the outcome of his appeal. In September 2004 his appeal was finally processed; once more his case gained national attention when his lawyers alleged that he had been wrongfully convicted and that Bernardo was guilty of Bain's murder. They pointed to circumstantial evidence suggesting links to Bernardo, evidence not available during Baltovich's original trial because the identity of the Scarborough rapist was then unknown. Asked about the matter, Bernardo denied involvement in Bain's disappearance.
On March 31, 2008, jury selection began in the second-degree murder trial. The trial, slated to begin in Toronto on April 14, 2008, was delayed, with the Crown (prosecution) giving no reason. When the trial resumed, the Crown declined to call any of the more than 50 witnesses they had planned, citing "recent developments, including the cumulative effect of the pre-trial evidentiary rulings rendered to date in this case, other evidentiary issues, and changes to case law". With no Crown case, the judge directed the jury to make a finding of not guilty on April 22, 2008.
In January of 2010 the Attorney-General concluded that the payment of financial compensation was not appropriate.
On April 21, 2010 a civil suit alleging malicious prosecution, negligent investigation and negligent representation was filed on behalf of Baltovich. The defendants named include John McMahon, now a judge with the Superior Court of Ontario, and Paul Amenta, a practicing Crown Attorney in Toronto. Brian Raybould and Steve Reesor, the two lead detectives in the case, are also named as defendants.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
man who was wrongly convicted in 1992 of the murder of his girlfriend, Elizabeth Bain, in Scarborough
Scarborough, Ontario
Scarborough is a dissolved municipality within the city of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Geographically, it comprises the eastern part of Toronto. It is bordered on the south by Lake Ontario, on the west by Victoria Park Avenue, on the north by Steeles Avenue East, and on the east by the Rouge River...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. He spent eight years in prison and nearly another decade trying to clear his name, before being found not guilty in a retrial on April 22 2008.
Elizabeth Bain murder
In 1990 Baltovich graduated with a degree in psychologyPsychology
Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
and history from the University of Toronto at Scarborough. There he met fellow student Elizabeth Bain and a relationship developed.
Bain disappeared on June 19, 1990 after telling her mother she was going to "check the tennis schedule" on campus. On June 22 her car was found with a large bloodstain in the back seat. Her body was never found.
First trial and conviction
On November 19, 1990, Baltovich was arrested and charged with first-degree murder. His case continued in the courts for several years, during which he consistently maintained his innocence. His lawyers suggested that the so-called "Scarborough Rapist", the name by which the infamous Canadian serial killer Paul BernardoPaul Bernardo
Paul Kenneth Bernardo, also known as Paul Jason Teale , is a Canadian serial killer and rapist, known for the sexual assaults and murders he committed with his wife Karla Homolka and the serial rapes he committed in Scarborough.-Early life:Bernardo's mother, Marilyn, was the adopted daughter of a...
was then known, might be responsible for the murder.
On March 31, 1992, Baltovich was convicted of second-degree murder. His lawyers appealed and on March 31, 2000, Baltovich was released on bail, pending the outcome of his appeal. In September 2004 his appeal was finally processed; once more his case gained national attention when his lawyers alleged that he had been wrongfully convicted and that Bernardo was guilty of Bain's murder. They pointed to circumstantial evidence suggesting links to Bernardo, evidence not available during Baltovich's original trial because the identity of the Scarborough rapist was then unknown. Asked about the matter, Bernardo denied involvement in Bain's disappearance.
Appeal, retrial and acquittal
On December 2, 2004, the Court of Appeal for Ontario set aside the conviction, delivering what news reports called "a scathing attack" on the conduct of the original trial judge. This fell short of the acquittal that Baltovich's counsel had argued for. On July 15, 2005, Ontario's Ministry of the Attorney-General announced that Baltovich would face a new trial on charges of second-degree murder, at an unspecified date, and remain free on bail in the meantime. During that time, Baltovich worked as a librarian for the Government of Ontario.On March 31, 2008, jury selection began in the second-degree murder trial. The trial, slated to begin in Toronto on April 14, 2008, was delayed, with the Crown (prosecution) giving no reason. When the trial resumed, the Crown declined to call any of the more than 50 witnesses they had planned, citing "recent developments, including the cumulative effect of the pre-trial evidentiary rulings rendered to date in this case, other evidentiary issues, and changes to case law". With no Crown case, the judge directed the jury to make a finding of not guilty on April 22, 2008.
In January of 2010 the Attorney-General concluded that the payment of financial compensation was not appropriate.
On April 21, 2010 a civil suit alleging malicious prosecution, negligent investigation and negligent representation was filed on behalf of Baltovich. The defendants named include John McMahon, now a judge with the Superior Court of Ontario, and Paul Amenta, a practicing Crown Attorney in Toronto. Brian Raybould and Steve Reesor, the two lead detectives in the case, are also named as defendants.