Steven Truscott’s 48-Year Reputation Campaign: I’m not a Murderer
August 28, 2007 by Eric Eggertson
Filed under Marketing
Steven Truscott is a dependable factory worker in Guelph, Ontario, but you might know him better as the 14-year-old boy sentenced to death allegedly for raping and murdering a 12-year-old girl in Ontario in 1959.
Truscott will hear today whether a court will clear his name of the murder conviction that has been tied to his name for the past 48 years.
From a public relations perspective, Truscott has been a credible voice with a consistent, clear message: I am not a murderer.
His message wasn’t clear enough at his trial to rebut the tunnel vision criminal case against him. On the advice of his lawyer he didn’t testify. But Canadian journalists took up his cause, and finally, in the 1990s, he launched an effort to clear his name.
He’s not asking for a multi-million dollar settlement for wrongful conviction. He’s not asking for an apology. He just wants to be able to tell his grandchildren he was convicted of a crime he didn’t commit, without having to explain that he’s still officially a paroled murderer.
Background on the Truscott story. Julian Sher’s book on the case.
Screen shot of Truscott on CBC’s news show The National.
Tags: crime, death sentence, steven truscott, murder, wrongful conviction, public relations, communications, canada, julian sher
Truscott was acquitted, with an apology from the Ontario Attorney General, and a planned review of what compensation is appropriate. The appeal court called the original conviction “a miscarriage of justice.”
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2007/08/28/truscott-decision.html
I am perhaps one of the few Canadians left in Canada that still believes that Trustcott is guilty. I will not succumb to popular opinion that children are incapable of murder-James Bulger anyone??
Nor to will I believe the notion “just because everyone believes it true, it MUST be true!” mentality.
And I am thankful that Truscott was not sentenced to death at the age of 14-an appalling way to deal with justice in our free and modern society (although I do think he should have spent LWOP in solitary confinement for the unspeakable pain he caused)
I have my own reasons for believing in Trustcott’s guilt. And there was alot of evidence in the early case to prove it. Its too much to write here.
–For one, Trustcott said he left Lynne in the same place where she was found dead-even though he said he took her to the highway.
–Trustcott had a deep interest in young women and was strong young man (there is a big difference between the strength of a 10 year old and that of a nearly 15 year old)
–much of his testimony didn’t add up..but you will not read that in the paper
Read this statement analysis from a neutral source:
http://www.statementanalysis.com/truscott/
Here is a quote from it:
CanWest News Service quotes Truscott as saying “I never in my wildest dreams expected in my lifetime for this to come true. So this is a dream come true.” This is an odd statement for an innocent person to make. Some would say that since Truscott has been viewed as being guilty for so many years, he never thought he would live to see his acquittal. My experience has been that a person who knows he did not commit the crime will always have a hope or dream that he will one day be exonerated. Truscott’s statement seems to be in line with what he said over 45 years ago when he was convicted of this murder and then received a stay of execution. In hoping for another miracle, Truscott did not hope the killer would be found. He only hoped for “an appeal, a new trial, even an acquittal.” Well, he got his acquittal and rightly so did not get his declaration of innocence
And lastly DON’T FORGET THE REAL VICTM IN THIS STORY–LYNNE HARPER AND HER FAMILY…
Anonymous:
In a case that, by today’s standards is almost completely based on circumstantial evidence, it’s hard to know what really happened.
I agree that a big teenager is capable of murder, but the reading I’ve done only points to a teenager doing the crime if that’s what you’re looking for. If you’re not trying to make the evidence fit a particular theory, the evidence seems to point in a lot of directions that were not pursued by police.
As for the analysis you linked to, one could make the same analysis of almost any statement by anyone, and come up with all sorts of semiotic interpretations. I certainly didn’t think the analysis was neutral. If anything, it seemed to be painfully trying to find evidence to fit a particular theory.
I’m not saying you don’t have the right to hold your beliefs. Just that nothing you said is very convincing.
Steven Truscott was in the wrong place at the wrong time and an over zealous prosecutor ignored vital information that would have led them to the real killer.
I have met Steven Truscott, I know his wife, I have met his children. Everyone should have the strength of character that this kind, gentle person was blessed with. Just imagine how anyone of us could have had our lives ruined by being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Clearly, “but for the Grace of God, go I”
Carol: I was born in 1959, and it seems my life has followed an arc of reading about him.
Indeed, you wonder what would have happened if the long arm of the law reached out and imprisoned you because one or two pieces of evidence pointed to you.
Investigative techniques have improved in the last 48 years, but it’s still possible for evidence to point in the wrong direction.
I find it sad that too many of the Truscott bloggers are no more than clones that want to be a part of the winning team. Fighting the system on these matters is so much fun, more so when no thought process is needed.
When those clones start peeling their way through the layers of that protective crowd, perhaps indivdual ideas will constitute reason over mob rhetoric.
I am personally sickened that Truscott was even given a 2nd appeal. It should never have happened, however, his team had him slip in the back door (miscarriage of justice).
No one will ever find that direct link connecting Truscott to the crime unless he altruistically heeds righteousness and affords us a confession.
If anyone wants to hear a compelling analysis on why I hold Truscott culpable in the rape and murder of little Lynne Cheryl Harper, email me @ laverite555@hotmail.com.