Sask. sisters convicted of murder reunite in front of courthouse with hope to clear their names
Two Indigenous sisters, who are among Canada’s longest serving female inmates, saw each other for the first time in 18 years, outside a Yorkton, Sask. courthouse on Thursday.
The Quewezance sisters were convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison in 1994 for the death of Kamsack farmer Anthony Joseph Dolff.
Both sisters have maintained their innocence for nearly three decades and will apply for bail on Jan. 17, while federal prosecutors investigate a possible miscarriage of justice in their case.
In 2021 the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples (CAP) called for the immediate release of the two sisters after Jason Keshane, a man who was with them the day of the crime, admitted to being responsible for the killing.
“I stabbed him and beat him up,” Keshane told the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network.
Keshane, who was a youth when the crime was committed, was handed a four-year sentence for second degree murder.
“I feel I’m ready for this. I’m really excited to see my sister,” said Odelia Quewezance moments before meeting her sister, Nerissa.
Nerissa arrived in the back of an RCMP vehicle, and then the two sisters hugged outside the Court of King’s Bench in Yorkton. They hadn’t seen each other since their father’s funeral in 2004.
“It was surreal. It was emotional when I was sitting with her in the courtroom,” Nerissa said.
The women were there for a hearing that would determine whether media can report on the upcoming bail proceedings.
Saskatchewan Crown Attorney Kelly Kaip said she requested a publication ban to ensure a fair hearing.
The sister’s defence attorney and co-founder of Innocence Canada, James Lockyer, said there is no new evidence that will taint the proceedings, and the public has a right to know.
The judge has reserved his decision on the publication ban for now, but will announce it next week.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Asking rent prices up 9.3% across Canada, Ontario sees only decline: report
A new report says the average asking rent for a home in Canada in April was up 9.3 per cent compared with a year ago, while a slight month-over-month increase was also recorded for the first time since January.
Prince William says wife Kate is 'doing well'
Prince William said on Friday his wife Kate was 'doing well' in a rare public comment about the Princess of Wales as she undergoes preventative chemotherapy for cancer.
'I may have some nightmares:' Man survives being bitten by 2 sharks in Bahamas
A man who was bitten by two sharks in the Bahamas said Thursday he's 'thankful that I'm here' while sharing his story of survival.
Ontario coroner to investigate death of man who suffered cardiac arrest while waiting in ER
A provincial coroner will be investigating the death of 68-year-old David Lippert, who suffered a cardiac arrest while waiting in a crowded emergency room in Kitchener, Ont.
Magnitude 4.2 earthquake reported off Vancouver Island's west coast
A 4.2-magnitude earthquake was recorded west of Vancouver Island early Friday morning.
'Irate male' assaulted Newfoundland officers with block of cheese, police say
Police in Newfoundland say patrol officers were assaulted Thursday by a "very irate male" wielding a block of cheese.
Dashcam video shows terrifying near-miss on two-lane northern Ontario highway
There were some scary moments for several people on a northern Ontario highway caught on video Thursday after a chain reaction following a truck fire.
Average hourly wage in Canada now $34.95: StatCan
Average hourly wages among Canadian employees rose to $34.95 on a year-over-year basis in April, a 4.7 per cent increase, according to a Statistics Canada report released Friday morning.
Canadian Blood Services apologizes to LGBTQ2S+ community for discriminatory blood donation policy
Canada's longstanding blood donation policy that prevented sexually active men who have sex with men and some trans people from donating blood and plasma was harmful and discriminatory, Canadian Blood Services acknowledged on Friday, in issuing an apology to the LGBTQ2S+ community.