This year’s Truscott Lecture in honour of Steven Truscott - which serves as a call for vigilance against injustices in the justice system – will be given by Yasir Naqvi, Ontario’s attorney general. It happens on Monday, Mar. 27. Naqvi oversees Ontario’s justice system.
Back in 1959, Steven Truscott was wrongly accused and convicted of murder at the age of 14. He lived in Clinton, Ontario at the time. He spent several years in custody before his release in 1969. He was not acquitted of the charge and exonerated until 2007.
Truscott was initially incarcerated at the Ontario Training School for Boys in Guelph, and lived in Guelph for many years after his release.
Challenging the status quo will be the focus of Naqvi’s free lecture at the University of Guelph. He will explore the issue of pretrial delay in criminal cases. The lecture takes place from 6:30-7:30 p.m. in Alexander Hall, Room 200.
A reception will follow in the Summerlee Science Complex atrium. Both the lecture and the reception are open to the public and admission is free.
Truscott is legendary in Canada for his decades-long battle to prove his innocence and clear his name. He was wrongly convicted for murder in the death of his schoolmate Lynne Harper.
In a U of G press release, political science professor Troy Riddell said the lecture series allows for an in-depth examination of criminal justice issues. Riddell is an organizer of the series.
The event helps foster more informed dialogue and critical analysis among students, the public, and legal and law enforcement professionals, with the goal of improving the justice system. Naqvi will engage in a roundtable discussion with students before the lecture.
Naqvi was appointed attorney general last year. He is a Liberal member of the Ontario Legislature, serving Ottawa Centre. He was born and raised in Karachi, Pakistan, coming to Canada with his family at the age of 15. He practiced international trade law before entering politics.
