SASKATOON — It was 34 years ago, April 16, 1992, when the government of Saskatchewan announced a stay of proceedings in the case against David Milgaard.
David Milgaard served 23 years in prison after being wrongfully convicted for the 1969 rape and murder of nursing student Gail Miller in Saskatoon.
Because of the stay of proceedings by the government, Milgaard was released from prison – but he would have to wait another five years before he would be exonerated — his name cleared, thanks to DNA evidence.
In May of 1999, the governments of Canada and Saskatchewan announced a $10-million settlement be paid to Milgaard for the wrongful conviction.
He was appointed to an Independent Review Board Working Group ordered by PM Justin Trudeau in 2019.
After his release, he lived in Alberta and was employed as a community support worker. Milgaard was a tireless advocate for those wrongfully convicted. He died in 2022 at the age of 69 from complications of pneumonia – leaving a legacy beyond the miscarriage of justice he suffered – his wife Cristina and two children.
In February 2023, Justice Minister David Lametti introduced a bill called the "David and Joyce Milgaard's Law" to create a new, independent commission to investigate potential wrongful conviction cases.
Learn more about 100 Years of CKRM at 620ckrm.com.
100 Years of Saskatchewan History
This article is part of a series that celebrates both the history of Saskatchewan and the 100th anniversary of one of Saskatchewan's most storied radio stations. For more key moments from the last 100 years, visit the CKRM timeline.
