Steven Truscott's Case

The Steven Murray Truscott Case

By: Justin

Verdict and Sentence

Since Steven's crime was so severe they trialed him as an adult at the time. The murder trial lasted 2 weeks and the jury members all decided the verdict: guilty, with a request for mercy. Steven was then sentenced to be hanged but the Prime Minister refused to hang a 14 year old. Steven was then sentenced to life imprisonment where he got paroled in 1969.

Major points for the crown

• Fact that Steven was last known person to see Lynne
• Testimony that Steven intended to have sexual intercourse that evening
• Forensic evidence about the time of Lynne's death
• Forensic evidence of two lesions on Steven penis (which the crown said was from having intercourse with a young girl

Major points of the Defense

Status of the case now

• Steven said that he saw Lynne get into a grey Chevrolet when he dropped her off by the highway.
• There is no physical evidence leading to Steven that he kille or raped Lynne.
• The sores on Stevens penis were not from raping Lynne but from masturbation or a skin condition
• Dougie Oats Said he saw them, and when he went to walk home he took the same way if Steven had murdered Lynne, but claimed he didn't see anything or anyone when walking home.
• Gordon Logan said he was swimming under the bridge and saw Steven alone biking home at the same time of the "killing"

Laws within the Criminal Code

Steven now has a family and is trying to clear his name, he took his evidence to court to prove he was not guilty but the court decided there was no proof saying he did or not, so they couldn't claim him guilty or unguilty.

Section 690 of the criminal code was used to asses Stevens case. Section 690 was repealed from the criminal code in 2002.

Section 690 was replaced for 696.1 to 696.6, these sections all have to deal with the Minister of Justice and the decision he is making.

Steven Truscott and Lynne Harper

Steven Truscott was born January 18, 1945 in Vancouver, British Columbia. When Steven was 14 he murdered Lynne Harper and was sentenced to be hanged. The sentence then changed to life improsiment. Steven later got out on parole and stareted a new life with his wife and kids.

Cheryl "Lynne" Harper was born August 31, 1946 in Moncton, New Brunswick. On June 9, 1959 Lynne was murdered at the age of 12. Lynne got a ride from Steven one night and was raped then murdered by an army air force base near Toronto.

Is Canada a Just Society?

Canada can be a just society, but it can be the opposite as well, in this case Steven proved to not only been accused for killing Lynne but had to do time in jail and almost got hanged. Canada is not a just Society because even after Steven proved there was no physical evidence proving he killed Lynne, they still couldn't clear his name and admit he wasn't guilty after all. Canada is an unjust society because of its decisions being mde in court, when there is no hard evidence proving the person is guilty.

Steven Trusscot

Steven truscott gave 12 year old, Lynne Harper a ride on his bike after school. Steven rode down an air force base near Toronto,raped and strangled Lynne Harper. Police found Lynnes body two days later and arrested Steven Trusscot for murder. Steven was then in trial, and sentenced to be hanged for the death of Lynne Harper.