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Global News
4 days ago
- Global News
Small gathering lays ashes of wrongfully convicted man to rest, as family seeks probe
In a quiet grove at the edge of a Halifax cemetery, the family of a wrongfully convicted man laid his remains to rest, and said his fight for justice lives on. Glen Assoun died June 14, 2023, but the family postponed interring his ashes until a gathering Monday, presided over by Rev. David Watt, a Baptist minister who stood by his friend over the years. 'We laid him here to rest …. But I feel like the real rest will happen when we have a resolution and some people are held accountable,' said his daughter Amanda Huckle, following the small gathering. In March 2019, a Nova Scotia court acquitted Assoun in the 1995 killing of his ex-girlfriend, Brenda Lee Way. During 17 years in prison and five years under strict bail conditions, Assoun developed heart illnesses and suffered from mental illnesses. He only received a compensation settlement from the federal and provincial governments about two years before he died at the age of 67. Story continues below advertisement Almost five years ago, the province requested the police oversight body begin a formal probe into whether officers broke the law when they destroyed evidence relevant to Assoun's case. In March 2021, the Nova Scotia police watchdog announced that to ensure transparency, its counterpart in British Columbia had agreed to be on the investigation. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy But on Nov. 30, 2023, Nova Scotia's agency announced the B.C. watchdog had dropped the case due to a heavy workload. Since then, the agency has reached out to multiple police oversight bodies and has struggled to find one that will take the case. 2:13 Wrongful murder conviction report of Glen Assoun released Erin Nauss, the director of the Serious Incident Response Team, said in an email Monday that she had 'hoped to have an update,' but isn't yet in a position to share information about the next steps. 'I want to assure you that my focus and our work on moving this investigation forward has not wavered. I will provide an update when there is more to say,' she wrote. Story continues below advertisement Huckle said the family's expectations aren't wavering, as this is an important part of how they can move forward. 'This (interment) is closure for us in some aspects but there's still that lingering door that is still open,' she said. During the ceremony, Assoun's ashes were placed in a marble bench inscribed with the Gibson guitars he loved to play. Family members each touched the sides of the enclosure. Tanya Assoun, his eldest daughter, read an April 19, 2009, letter he'd written to her from prison, telling her he missed her and advising, 'Be strong and think positive … set your bar high. Through the grace of God justice will prevail.' 'He always wanted the best for me,' she said after the service. 'Even though he was in prison, he would always say those things to me.' During the gathering, Watt read Bible verses and recalled 'the blessing of memories,' including sitting and eating meals with Assoun, who was his roommate for two years after his release. As the group walked away from the secluded spot, Watt said his friend would have liked the nature path and the tranquil spot where his bench is set. The only sound through the day was of a slight June breeze. Amanda Huckle agreed. 'My Dad deserved peace. He deserves this peace,' she said. Story continues below advertisement
Hamilton Spectator
4 days ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Small gathering lays ashes of wrongfully convicted man to rest, as family seeks probe
HALIFAX - In a quiet grove at the edge of a Halifax cemetery, the family of a wrongfully convicted man laid his remains to rest, and said his fight for justice lives on. Glen Assoun died June 14, 2023, but the family postponed interring his ashes until a gathering Monday, presided over by Rev. David Watt, a Baptist minister who stood by his friend over the years. 'We laid him here to rest .... But I feel like the real rest will happen when we have a resolution and some people are held accountable,' said his daughter Amanda Huckle, following the small gathering. In March 2019, a Nova Scotia court acquitted Assoun in the 1995 killing of his ex-girlfriend, Brenda Lee Way. During 17 years in prison and five years under strict bail conditions, Assoun developed heart illnesses and suffered from mental illnesses. He only received a compensation settlement from the federal and provincial governments about two years before he died at the age of 67. Almost five years ago, the province requested the police oversight body begin a formal probe into whether officers broke the law when they destroyed evidence relevant to Assoun's case. In March 2021, the Nova Scotia police watchdog announced that to ensure transparency, its counterpart in British Columbia had agreed to be on the investigation. But on Nov. 30, 2023, Nova Scotia's agency announced the B.C. watchdog had dropped the case due to a heavy workload. Since then, the agency has reached out to multiple police oversight bodies and has struggled to find one that will take the case. Erin Nauss, the director of the Serious Incident Response Team, said in an email Monday that she had 'hoped to have an update,' but isn't yet in a position to share information about the next steps. 'I want to assure you that my focus and our work on moving this investigation forward has not wavered. I will provide an update when there is more to say,' she wrote. Huckle said the family's expectations aren't wavering, as this is an important part of how they can move forward. 'This (interment) is closure for us in some aspects but there's still that lingering door that is still open,' she said. During the ceremony, Assoun's ashes were placed in a marble bench inscribed with the Gibson guitars he loved to play. Family members each touched the sides of the enclosure. Tanya Assoun, his eldest daughter, read an April 19, 2009, letter he'd written to her from prison, telling her he missed her and advising, 'Be strong and think positive ... set your bar high. Through the grace of God justice will prevail.' 'He always wanted the best for me,' she said after the service. 'Even though he was in prison, he would always say those things to me.' During the gathering, Watt read Bible verses and recalled 'the blessing of memories,' including sitting and eating meals with Assoun, who was his roommate for two years after his release. As the group walked away from the secluded spot, Watt said his friend would have liked the nature path and the tranquil spot where his bench is set. The only sound through the day was of a slight June breeze. Amanda Huckle agreed. 'My Dad deserved peace. He deserves this peace,' she said. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 17, 2025. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Global News
26-05-2025
- Global News
Daughter of wrongfully convicted N.S. man says grief grows without probe of police
The daughter of a wrongfully convicted Nova Scotia man says burying her father next month will renew her intense grief — especially if a criminal investigation into his case remains stalled. Amanda Huckle says when her father Glen Assoun died about two years ago, she felt the accumulated injustice of the almost 17 years he spent in a federal prison for a crime he was found not guilty of committing. 'As his life left his body, it's like all his pain just sat in the palm of our hands and we're left to carry this,' she said in a telephone interview Wednesday. In March 2019, a Nova Scotia court acquitted Assoun in the 1995 killing of his ex-girlfriend, Brenda Lee Way. During the years in prison and the five years living under strict bail conditions, Assoun developed debilitating heart illnesses and suffered from mental illnesses. He only received a compensation settlement from the federal and provincial governments about two years before he died at the age of 67. Story continues below advertisement Huckle said the family is frustrated that a police oversight body hasn't started a formal probe into whether RCMP officers broke the law when they destroyed evidence relevant to Assoun's case. She said it would help if the investigation is launched before the Christian interment ceremony takes place in June. 'Not having this investigation occurring intensifies the grief because we feel this injustice … we're feeling it for him,' she said. The daughter said she appreciates recent comments from Erin Nauss, the director of Nova Scotia's police oversight body — the Serious Incident Response Team — that the case is 'a priority' and that the agency hopes to make an announcement in the 'near future.' However, she said she's heard similar comments repeatedly over the past five years, since a former Liberal cabinet minister first asked in the fall of 2020 that the police oversight agency carry out a probe of potential criminal wrongdoing involving the RCMP and Halifax police. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'I'll believe it when I see it. It feels like false hopes and nothing ever happens,' she said. 1:44 Federal Justice Minister Lametti says Nova Scotia should deal with Assoun Case In March 2021, the Nova Scotia police watchdog announced that to ensure transparency, its counterpart in British Columbia had agreed to take the case. But on Nov. 30, 2023, Nova Scotia's agency announced the B.C. watchdog had dropped the case due to a heavy workload. Since then, Nauss has reached out to multiple police oversight bodies and has struggled to find one that will take the case. Story continues below advertisement Recently, Nauss indicated that she is in talks with another provincial oversight body to take over the investigation. 'This is an important matter and one I am taking seriously,' she wrote in an email Thursday. 'I empathize with the concerns mentioned and understand the time that has passed is frustrating.' Premier Tim Houston, asked Tuesday if he would involve his office in helping arrange the probe, said he'll await the decision of another province considering taking it on. 'I will respect the decision of the (other provincial) government on that situation. I know they're focused on that and so I'll respect that decision,' he said. View image in full screen Glen Assoun, who died in June 2023 at age 67, was acquitted in March 2019 of the 1995 killing of his ex-girlfriend, Brenda Lee Anne Way, after spending almost 17 years in prison. Assoun stands outside Supreme Court in Halifax on July 12, 2019. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan. AV Huckle, who is now a police officer experienced in investigations, said she's concerned about the passage of time, as it can reduce the chance to collect evidence, and memories of potential witnesses can fade. 'The older people get we always have the risk that they won't still be alive to provide evidence or even be held accountable,' she said. Story continues below advertisement The continued delays in having an investigation start also has the effect of constantly reopening old wounds, she said. While the wider public may be starting to forget about Assoun's wrongful conviction, the matter remains fresh for Huckle. 'I think about this every single day …. We don't have answers. We want answers. Why did this happen to my Dad? Why?' she said. Sean MacDonald, Assoun's former lawyer, has said if a criminal probe into police actions in Assoun's case went forward it would be a watershed moment, as it would raise the bar for police conduct and create a level of accountability that hasn't existed in prior wrongful convictions. The issue of police accountability in wrongful convictions remains front and centre, including in the case of Robert Mailman and Walter Gillespie. The two men were cleared 2023 in a 1983 murder in Saint John, N.B., after serving lengthy prison terms. In March, the Saint John Police Force released a summary of an independent review which found that tunnel vision occurred in the case, but the police chief said the officers involved wouldn't face consequences as there was no malicious intent. Huckle said if the announcement doesn't come before her father's burial ceremony, she won't give up. The next milestone will be this September, five years after the province asked the Serious Incident Response Team to take on the case. Story continues below advertisement 'I would hope that… someone has taken on this investigation by then. Do I have faith that will happen? No, I don't,' she said. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 26, 2025.
Hamilton Spectator
26-05-2025
- Hamilton Spectator
Daughter of wrongfully convicted N.S. man says grief grows without probe of police
HALIFAX - The daughter of a wrongfully convicted Nova Scotia man says burying her father next month will renew her intense grief — especially if a criminal investigation into his case remains stalled. Amanda Huckle says when her father Glen Assoun died about two years ago, she felt the accumulated injustice of the almost 17 years he spent in a federal prison for a crime he was found not guilty of committing. 'As his life left his body, it's like all his pain just sat in the palm of our hands and we're left to carry this,' she said in a telephone interview Wednesday. In March 2019, a Nova Scotia court acquitted Assoun in the 1995 killing of his ex-girlfriend, Brenda Lee Way. During the years in prison and the five years living under strict bail conditions, Assoun developed debilitating heart illnesses and suffered from mental illnesses. He only received a compensation settlement from the federal and provincial governments about two years before he died at the age of 67. Huckle said the family is frustrated that a police oversight body hasn't started a formal probe into whether RCMP officers broke the law when they destroyed evidence relevant to Assoun's case. She said it would help if the investigation is launched before the Christian interment ceremony takes place in June. 'Not having this investigation occurring intensifies the grief because we feel this injustice ... we're feeling it for him,' she said. The daughter said she appreciates recent comments from Erin Nauss, the director of Nova Scotia's police oversight body — the Serious Incident Response Team — that the case is 'a priority' and that the agency hopes to make an announcement in the 'near future.' However, she said she's heard similar comments repeatedly over the past five years, since a former Liberal cabinet minister first asked in the fall of 2020 that the police oversight agency carry out a probe of potential criminal wrongdoing involving the RCMP and Halifax police. 'I'll believe it when I see it. It feels like false hopes and nothing ever happens,' she said. In March 2021, the Nova Scotia police watchdog announced that to ensure transparency, its counterpart in British Columbia had agreed to take the case. But on Nov. 30, 2023, Nova Scotia's agency announced the B.C. watchdog had dropped the case due to a heavy workload. Since then, Nauss has reached out to multiple police oversight bodies and has struggled to find one that will take the case. Recently, Nauss indicated that she is in talks with another provincial oversight body to take over the investigation. 'This is an important matter and one I am taking seriously,' she wrote in an email Thursday. 'I empathize with the concerns mentioned and understand the time that has passed is frustrating.' Premier Tim Houston, asked Tuesday if he would involve his office in helping arrange the probe, said he'll await the decision of another province considering taking it on. 'I will respect the decision of the (other provincial) government on that situation. I know they're focused on that and so I'll respect that decision,' he said. Huckle, who is now a police officer experienced in investigations, said she's concerned about the passage of time, as it can reduce the chance to collect evidence, and memories of potential witnesses can fade. 'The older people get we always have the risk that they won't still be alive to provide evidence or even be held accountable,' she said. The continued delays in having an investigation start also has the effect of constantly reopening old wounds, she said. While the wider public may be starting to forget about Assoun's wrongful conviction, the matter remains fresh for Huckle. 'I think about this every single day .... We don't have answers. We want answers. Why did this happen to my Dad? Why?' she said. Sean MacDonald, Assoun's former lawyer, has said if a criminal probe into police actions in Assoun's case went forward it would be a watershed moment, as it would raise the bar for police conduct and create a level of accountability that hasn't existed in prior wrongful convictions. The issue of police accountability in wrongful convictions remains front and centre, including in the case of Robert Mailman and Walter Gillespie. The two men were cleared 2023 in a 1983 murder in Saint John, N.B., after serving lengthy prison terms. In March, the Saint John Police Force released a summary of an independent review which found that tunnel vision occurred in the case, but the police chief said the officers involved wouldn't face consequences as there was no malicious intent. Huckle said if the announcement doesn't come before her father's burial ceremony, she won't give up. The next milestone will be this September, five years after the province asked the Serious Incident Response Team to take on the case. 'I would hope that... someone has taken on this investigation by then. Do I have faith that will happen? No, I don't,' she said. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 26, 2025.
Winnipeg Free Press
26-05-2025
- Winnipeg Free Press
Daughter of wrongfully convicted N.S. man says grief grows without probe of police
HALIFAX – The daughter of a wrongfully convicted Nova Scotia man says burying her father next month will renew her intense grief — especially if a criminal investigation into his case remains stalled. Amanda Huckle says when her father Glen Assoun died about two years ago, she felt the accumulated injustice of the almost 17 years he spent in a federal prison for a crime he was found not guilty of committing. 'As his life left his body, it's like all his pain just sat in the palm of our hands and we're left to carry this,' she said in a telephone interview Wednesday. In March 2019, a Nova Scotia court acquitted Assoun in the 1995 killing of his ex-girlfriend, Brenda Lee Way. During the years in prison and the five years living under strict bail conditions, Assoun developed debilitating heart illnesses and suffered from mental illnesses. He only received a compensation settlement from the federal and provincial governments about two years before he died at the age of 67. Huckle said the family is frustrated that a police oversight body hasn't started a formal probe into whether RCMP officers broke the law when they destroyed evidence relevant to Assoun's case. She said it would help if the investigation is launched before the Christian interment ceremony takes place in June. 'Not having this investigation occurring intensifies the grief because we feel this injustice … we're feeling it for him,' she said. The daughter said she appreciates recent comments from Erin Nauss, the director of Nova Scotia's police oversight body — the Serious Incident Response Team — that the case is 'a priority' and that the agency hopes to make an announcement in the 'near future.' However, she said she's heard similar comments repeatedly over the past five years, since a former Liberal cabinet minister first asked in the fall of 2020 that the police oversight agency carry out a probe of potential criminal wrongdoing involving the RCMP and Halifax police. 'I'll believe it when I see it. It feels like false hopes and nothing ever happens,' she said. In March 2021, the Nova Scotia police watchdog announced that to ensure transparency, its counterpart in British Columbia had agreed to take the case. But on Nov. 30, 2023, Nova Scotia's agency announced the B.C. watchdog had dropped the case due to a heavy workload. Since then, Nauss has reached out to multiple police oversight bodies and has struggled to find one that will take the case. Recently, Nauss indicated that she is in talks with another provincial oversight body to take over the investigation. 'This is an important matter and one I am taking seriously,' she wrote in an email Thursday. 'I empathize with the concerns mentioned and understand the time that has passed is frustrating.' Premier Tim Houston, asked Tuesday if he would involve his office in helping arrange the probe, said he'll await the decision of another province considering taking it on. 'I will respect the decision of the (other provincial) government on that situation. I know they're focused on that and so I'll respect that decision,' he said. Huckle, who is now a police officer experienced in investigations, said she's concerned about the passage of time, as it can reduce the chance to collect evidence, and memories of potential witnesses can fade. 'The older people get we always have the risk that they won't still be alive to provide evidence or even be held accountable,' she said. The continued delays in having an investigation start also has the effect of constantly reopening old wounds, she said. While the wider public may be starting to forget about Assoun's wrongful conviction, the matter remains fresh for Huckle. 'I think about this every single day …. We don't have answers. We want answers. Why did this happen to my Dad? Why?' she said. Sean MacDonald, Assoun's former lawyer, has said if a criminal probe into police actions in Assoun's case went forward it would be a watershed moment, as it would raise the bar for police conduct and create a level of accountability that hasn't existed in prior wrongful convictions. The issue of police accountability in wrongful convictions remains front and centre, including in the case of Robert Mailman and Walter Gillespie. The two men were cleared 2023 in a 1983 murder in Saint John, N.B., after serving lengthy prison terms. In March, the Saint John Police Force released a summary of an independent review which found that tunnel vision occurred in the case, but the police chief said the officers involved wouldn't face consequences as there was no malicious intent. Huckle said if the announcement doesn't come before her father's burial ceremony, she won't give up. The next milestone will be this September, five years after the province asked the Serious Incident Response Team to take on the case. 'I would hope that… someone has taken on this investigation by then. Do I have faith that will happen? No, I don't,' she said. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 26, 2025.
