November 25, 2014 Ottawa, – ON – Department of Justice Canada
The Honourable Peter MacKay, P.C., Q.C., M.P. for Central Nova, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, today announced that he has referred the matter of Stanley Frank Ostrowski to the Manitoba Court of Appeal under the conviction review provisions of the Criminal Code.
“I am satisfied there is a reasonable basis to conclude that a miscarriage of justice likely occurred in Mr. Ostrowski’s 1987 conviction,” said Minister MacKay.
Mr. Ostrowski was convicted of the first-degree murder of Robert Neiman in Winnipeg, Manitoba. His appeal to the Manitoba Court of Appeal was rejected and leave to appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada was denied.
After the discovery of new information, Mr. Ostrowski’s counsel submitted an application to the Minister of Justice for a review of the murder conviction pursuant to sections 696.1-696.6 of the Criminal Code. In December 2009, a judge of the Manitoba Court of Queen’s Bench granted Mr. Ostrowski bail pending the Minister’s decision.
Minister MacKay made his decision to refer the matter after reviewing the Investigation Report prepared by an agent, the advice of his Special Advisor on Miscarriages of Justice, the submissions of Mr. Ostrowski’s counsel and those of the Attorney General of Manitoba.
As the Ostrowski matter has now been returned to the courts, Minister MacKay cannot comment further.
Further information about applications for ministerial review and the conviction review process is available at the CCRG website.
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