Ontario Court Orders New Trial for Man Convicted of 1989 Murder

UPDATE: The Ontario Court of Appeal has just announced a groundbreaking decision, ordering a new trial for Timothy Rees, who was wrongfully convicted of murdering 10-year-old Darla Thurrott in 1989. Rees, who has spent 23 years behind bars, maintains his innocence as the case reveals shocking details about police misconduct and evidence mishandling.

The court’s ruling, released Thursday, flags significant issues in the original investigation, including recanted confessions and undisclosed evidence that may point to another suspect. Former federal justice ministers have called the original trial a “miscarriage of justice,” raising urgent questions about the integrity of the legal process in this long-standing case.

Darla Thurrott was found dead in her Etobicoke home on March 17, 1989, after her mother, Darlene Thurrott, discovered her lifeless body. The post-mortem report confirmed strangulation as the cause of death. Investigators found no evidence of an intruder, focusing instead on five individuals who slept in the house that night, including Rees, who was a friend of the family.

Rees’s defense team argues that James Raymer, the home’s landlord, was responsible for the crime. Court documents reveal that Rees, who was just 25 at the time, initially confessed to the murder but later retracted his statement, claiming police pressured him into admitting guilt.

The appeal highlighted a crucial audio recording of Raymer, which police failed to disclose. In the tape, Raymer denied killing Darla but made inconsistent statements that raised red flags about his involvement. Notably, Raymer, who passed away in 1999, was a Crown witness in the original trial.

Despite the court’s order for a new trial, the likelihood of prosecution appears grim. The ruling indicates that the Crown has no intention of proceeding, with James Lockyer, Rees’s lawyer from Innocence Canada, stating that the chances of the Crown moving forward are “essentially non-existent.” He anticipates the case may be resolved through a withdrawal rather than a new trial.

The Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General has not provided specific details about future plans, citing ongoing court matters. However, the implications of this decision resonate deeply within the community. Rees expressed his emotional turmoil, stating, “I did not kill Darla. I am innocent and it had nothing to do with me,” as he fought back tears during a press conference.

As this case unfolds, many are left wondering about justice for Darla and the profound impact on all those involved. The legal saga raises critical questions about accountability and the need to rectify past wrongs.

Follow this developing story as it continues to capture national attention and calls for justice in a case that has haunted families and communities for over three decades.