Innocence Ottawa

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Innocence Ottawa Innocence Ottawa is a non-profit volunteer organization which seeks to address the problem of wrongful convictions and miscarriages of justice

Innocence Ottawa is a non-profit volunteer organization at the University of Ottawa which seeks to address the problem of wrongful convictions and miscarriages of justice more generally. Graduate students and Faculty at the University of Ottawa volunteer their time in an effort to assist individuals who claim to have been wrongfully convicted. The students, under the guidance of faculty, examine the cases of these individuals and, where feasible, re-investigate and seek proof of the claim of innocence. Ultimately , the Project will seek a formal remedy under section 696.1 of the Criminal Code. The project is seeking any potential clients who:
- Have made a claim of factual innocence
- Have a conviction for a serious offence (open for interpretation)
- Have exhausted all of their appeals
- Have no other reasonable alternatives available

The Project also welcomes any individual interested in addressing the issues surrounding miscarriages of justice, please contact any of the Administrators for additional information.

SAVE THE DATE❗️We are hosting our Annual General Meeting in honour of International Wrongful Conviction Day on October 7...
09/14/2026

SAVE THE DATE❗️

We are hosting our Annual General Meeting in honour of International Wrongful Conviction Day on October 7th.

We’ll hear from the editors of ‘Wrongful Conviction and the Criminalization of Innocence’ about the factors that contribute to wrongful convictions and the post-conviction review process, followed by a firsthand story from an Indigenous exoneree.

Come join the conversation, hear different perspectives, and learn more about the fight against wrongful convictions.

We hope to see you there!

02/10/2026

Innocence Ottawa marks the 70th anniversary of the wrongful ex*****on of Wilbert Coffin.

The factors that contributed to his wrongful conviction still occur today, underscoring the importance of remembering his story and continuing the fight for justice.

To learn more, visit www.wilbertcoffinaffair.com

Case Update: Tim Rees❗️On September 15, 1990, Tim Rees was convicted of the murder of 10-year-old Darla Thurrott and sen...
12/23/2025

Case Update: Tim Rees❗️

On September 15, 1990, Tim Rees was convicted of the murder of 10-year-old Darla Thurrott and sentenced to life in prison.

His appeal to the Court of Appeal was dismissed in 1994, and the Supreme Court of Canada refused to hear his case.

However, after 23 years in prison, Tim was released on parole in 2012.

On December 18, 2025, with the help of Innocence Canada, Tim’s second-degree murder charge was withdrawn in the Superior Court of Justice in Toronto.

Tim Rees said: “For the first time in 37 years, I do not carry the burdern of the charges of murdering Darla. I’m 62 and only now can I start my lfie anew.”

Innocence Ottawa’s Year in Review ✨From casework and outreach to community events and growth within our team, 2025 was a...
12/15/2025

Innocence Ottawa’s Year in Review ✨

From casework and outreach to community events and growth within our team, 2025 was a year of meaningful progress.

Thank you to our dedicated volunteers and supporters. This work wouldn’t be possible without you!

Access to justice takes many forms! ⚖️This week, as the Law Society of Ontario and the Action Group on Access to Justice...
10/28/2025

Access to justice takes many forms! ⚖️

This week, as the Law Society of Ontario and the Action Group on Access to Justice host the 10th annual , we’re reflecting on how innocence work fits into this landscape.

Just a few weeks ago, we hosted our Access to Justice Forum, where Indigenous community organizations and justice-focused groups came together to share ideas and strengthen collaboration across our community.

That same commitment guides our work every day at Innocence Ottawa, as we strive to ensure that individuals who have been (particularly Indigenous individuals) can access the support they need to pursue a conviction review.

Justice is only meaningful when it’s accessible to everyone!

What does ‘access to justice’ mean to you?

In 1984, Robert (Bobby) Mailman was wrongfully convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison without...
10/28/2025

In 1984, Robert (Bobby) Mailman was wrongfully convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for 18 years.

With the help of Innocence Canada, he was acquitted in January 2024. Sadly, less than two years later, Bobby passed away from liver cancer at the age of 77.

Bobby was always vocal in the fight for his innocence. As a result, his determination left a lasting impact on the New Brunswick justice system.

He will be missed by many ❤️

In 1984, Robert (Bobby) Mailman was wrongfully convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison without...
10/28/2025

In 1984, Robert (Bobby) Mailman was wrongfully convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for 18 years.

With the help of Innocence Canada, he was acquitted in January 2024. Sadly, less than two years later, Bobby passed away from liver cancer at the age of 77.

Bobby was always vocal in the fight for his innocence. As a result, his determination left a lasting impact on the New Brunswick justice system. He will be missed by many ❤️

To learn more about his case, check out this news article: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/wrongfully-convicted-new-brunswick-man-dies-from-cancer-9.6936993

In 1984, Robert (Bobby) Mailman was wrongfully convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison without...
10/27/2025

In 1984, Robert (Bobby) Mailman was wrongfully convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for 18 years.

With the help of Innocence Canada, he was acquitted in January 2024. Sadly, less than two years later, Bobby passed away from liver cancer at the age of 77.

Bobby was always vocal in the fight for his innocence. As a result, his determination left a lasting impact on the New Brunswick justice system. He will be missed by many *

To learn more about his case, check out this news article: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/wrongfully-convicted-new-brunswick-man-dies-from-cancer-9.6936993

In 1984, Robert (Bobby) Mailman was wrongfully convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison without...
10/25/2025

In 1984, Robert (Bobby) Mailman was wrongfully convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for 18 years.

With the help of Innocence Canada, he was acquitted in January 2024. Sadly, less than two years later, Bobby passed away from liver cancer at the age of 77.

Bobby was always vocal in the fight for his innocence. As a result, his determination left a lasting impact on the New Brunswick justice system.

He will be missed by many ❤️

To learn more about his case, check out this news article: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/wrongfully-convicted-new-brunswick-man-dies-from-cancer-9.6936993

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120 University Private
Ottawa, ON
K1N6N5

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