SECTION 690 APPLICATION OF SIDNEY VINCENT MORRISROE
THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE

SIGNIFICANT DATES IN CHRONOLOGY OF EVENTS

The following is a chronology of events concerning Sidney Vincent Morrisroe's application under Section 690 of the Criminal Code.

January 17, 1990:Mr. Morrisroe wrote to the then Speaker of the House of Commons, requesting a review of his murder conviction based on the allegation that two trial witnesses had recanted their testimony.

February 21, 1990: Department of Justice counsel, treating the letter as a Section 690 application, wrote Mr. Morrisroe to request the material necessary to complete a section 690 application.

June 11, 1992: Letter from Mr. George Wool, counsel to the Applicant providing some of the material requested in February 1990.

July 14, 1992:Letter from Minister's executive assistant to Mr. Wool requesting the balance of the materials.

October 21, 1992: Mr. Wool provided the trial transcripts and stated that a brief and additional affidavits would follow.

January 1993 -

May 1993:There was an exchange of correspondence between departmental officials and the Applicant's counsel concerning the provision of a waiver of solicitor-client privilege so that discussions with the Applicant's trial and appellate counsel about the case could take place.

April 13, 1993:Letter to Mr. Wool requesting the brief of submissions and additional affidavits which had been referred to by Mr. Wool in his earlier correspondence.

May 30, 1993:Open letter from the Applicant addressed to departmental counsel and copied to the media advising that Mr. Morrisroe will not waive solicitor-client privilege as requested.

July 14, 1993:Letter from the Applicant attaching brief of submissions.

October -

November 13, 1993:Interviews and inquiries by departmental officials conducted.

October 13, 1993:Letter from Mr. Wool to departmental counsel enclosing affidavit of John Doe dated October 21, 1992, and statement of Milos Dimitrijevic dated July 17, 1993.

December 1993 -

April 1994:New departmental counsel assigned, additional inquiries performed, drafting of investigation brief begun.

May 14, 1994:Letter from the Applicant attaching document titled "Sid's testimony had I taken the stand" and manuscript of book, Buried Alive. Further information and submissions also received.

June 1994:Further interviews and inquiries carried out by departmental counsel, including interview of Applicant.

June -

September 1994:Further information received, including the June 6, 1994 affidavit of Kevin Morrisroe and July 28, 1994, affidavit of Jane Doe.

October 1994:Further interviews and inquiries carried out by departmental counsel.

December 30, 1994:Departmental investigation brief completed and sent to the Applicant with a request for comments by January 31, 1995.

February 1995:Applicant applies for respite under section 749 of the Criminal Code. Further information received from parties ostensibly speaking on behalf of the Applicant.

March -

April 1995:Departmental counsel asks the Applicant to provide his comments on the investigation brief.

June 5, 1995:Applicant comments on the departmental investigation brief contained in a document entitled "Applicant's Brief and Reply," which contains several new submissions.

June 8, 1995:Applicant's counsel writes to advise that there may be further submissions.

June 9, 1995:Letter from the Applicant advising that there will not be further submissions.

June 21, 1995:Letter from the Applicant to departmental counsel advising that Mr. Wool has been dismissed as counsel.

July 18, 1995:Copy of notes prepared by Denise MacKinnon at the time of trial received by departmental counsel (unsolicited) from Vancouver Police Department.

July 19, 1995:Copy of Denise MacKinnon's notes forwarded to the Applicant.

August 7, 1995:Letter from Applicant's representative, attaching new submissions unrelated to Denise MacKinnon's notes.