William Mullins-Johnson wrongful conviction : A Death in the Family (2009) - The Fifth Estate
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 3 окт 2017
- A Death in the Family is the story of William Mullins-Johnson, his wrongful first-degree murder conviction, and how that guilty verdict shattered his family. In Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, on June 27, 1993, four-year-old Valin Johnson was found dead in her bed. She had been sick overnight and her family thought she had died after choking on her vomit. Within 12 hours, however, her favorite uncle, Bill Mullins-Johnson, would be arrested for the rape and murder of the little girl. Mullins-Johnson was charged and tried for first-degree murder. A jury found Bill guilty and he was sentenced to life in prison with no possibility of parole for 25 years. With little hope after two failed court appeals, Mullins-Johnson sent his case to the Association in Defence of the Wrongly Convicted. They agreed to look into it and 11 years to the day after his conviction, Bill was released on bail awaiting a new hearing. Two years later, on October 15, 2007, Bill was acquitted. Crucial pathology evidence given at his original trial was flawed. In A Death in the Family, Bill, his brother and their family share what it's like to be torn apart by suspicion and hatred for more than a decade, and to discover one day that it was all a mistake. For the first time, the family makes public the story of their suffering as victims of the judicial system.
---
Subscribe for more videos from The Fifth Estate : bit.ly/25W8cpn
Connect with The Fifth Estate online :
Website : bit.ly/1d0FBxq
Facebook : bit.ly/1UO9B8S
Twitter : bit.ly/237VM8P
Instagram : bit.ly/25W8SLs
About the fifth estate : For four decades The Fifth Estate has been Canada's premier investigative documentary program. Hosts Bob McKeown, Gillian Findlay and Mark Kelley continue a tradition of provocative and fearless journalism. the fifth estate brings in-depth investigations that matter to Canadians - delivering a dazzling parade of political leaders, controversial characters and ordinary people whose lives were touched by triumph or tragedy.
Bill turning down the 5 year plea deal, is the epitome of having dignity and integrity at the highest cost. Takes a strong person to do that
Right?! A person who turns down a deal like that is obviously not guilty! A guilty person would take that five year offer in two seconds for that type of charge. Such a failure of the justice system
The justice system doesn’t offer deals like that if they have the evidence to convict. They knew he wasn’t guilty and just tried to bury him in any sort of conviction. Is my opinion on this case.
@@nonamesjustopinions6984 check out the Brittani Marcell case and tell me what you think.
@@nonamesjustopinions6984 ruclips.net/video/qvF8TQD6q0Q/видео.html This is the video that I watched. I think they gave Justin the same deal but I believe he is guilty
@@nonamesjustopinions6984 It takes a lot of money to prove you’re not guilty. It is an evil system.
His mother is an example of what is a great mother.
Esmeralda Betancourt yes she is. No matter how you cut it that's the job of a mother.
Yea I would do the same for my daughter even if I was 90 years old and she was 60. Your baby is always your baby!!!!
Carrie Paramore-McCannon I agree you have a mother's instinct.
@Your safe space or mine? Precisely
Amen to that.
And his mother, you're a remarkable woman. I love you for this. You're a mother. A real mother.
Yes - a real mother stands by her innocent child. However, if she knows that her child is guilty, she turns that child in to the authorities.
@@lena-mariaglouis-charles7036 exactly. True love = tough love!
@@aymeespurlock2364
THANK You for Your interest in my comment!💕
Yes, a child that's consistently coddled and never has to take responsibility for any bad actions, will not do Life very well...
(Nor will a child that never receives praise when doing something positive and to the best of their ability...)
Parenting is a job that has to be taken seriously - for a minimum of at least 18-20 years...
💙💛🌹💜🍎🇺🇸
Omg I couldn’t agree with you more 👍👍👍!!
Ok ok stop show off overreacting
That doctor who said that he does not feel bad at all & still thinks he is right deserves to be sued!
That's the evil "Dr." Bhubendra Rasaiah. I've never punched anyone in the face, but I'm tempted to smack that smug incompetent fool.
Um he deserves to be arrested
@@anhedonianepiphany5588 hehehehe😁😁😹😹😹that be great
You're absolutely right he is an incompetent fool
I can think of several other things he deserves.
Can he be sued
The niece Jean, needs a rude awakening. People are wrongly convicted everyday. She is miserable and needs something to hold onto so she can continue to play the victim.
Empress Shae Tadesse well said
You are so right! When she said everybody but her forgot her dead sister you see how egocentric she is
I totally agree all about her
Empress Shae Tadesse v
Empress Shae Tadesse I’m sure her mom plays a huge part in the accusations of hi being still guilty This is such a sad story
Why does the mother of the victim blame the grandmother for choosing her son over her grandchildren when basically everyone abandoned him except for his mom? That’s what mothers do!
Ikr, like what's wrong with these people. A mother will always be there for her son, even before the grandkids cause that's kids that came out of her womb, there's no greater bond than that. This family all seems slow like even the girl who said if she had a gun, she'd kill the guy like uh, what??
Mothers always stand by their children no matter what.
I agree! I would still be there for my son even if committed murder! I'd hate what he did, but I'd still be his mother and love him!
This was vague on her part! The journalist ought to clarified this!
I thought she meant that his Mom chose not to spend time with the grandkids!
Or is it due to the family making his Mother choose between them and him!??
And why did her somewhat serious facial expression turn into a twisted little smirk when she said that _Paulie,_ the father of her children, including the girl who passed away, was looking for relief at the "bottom of a bottle"? Like she was glad that he might be suffering from alcoholism...
The niece wouldn't have been so mad at her uncle, if the lawyers, pathologists, etc did their job...And her uncle was never convicted? What does that even mean? Innocent people get imprisoned ALL THE TIME. I'm sorry, but is she "slow"?
Yes, she even admit it was the fault of the prosecutors and the fake medical reports. Yet the scoundrel has the nerve to say she would shoot Bill her uncle...horrible and twisted logic.her logic,no one get falsely convicted..what a stupid thing to say.
As a single man with a brother who has a few kids, I don't mind telling you I shed more than a few tears during this. William's dignity, including at the end where he admitted his faults to try and help others, is something we should all aspire to. No amount of compensation can ever repair what this man and his family have been through.
I feel he do harm his niece it ppen there a lot of incest happening these days and God answer pray he got 12years I hope he is repent and that time he spend will help him when to devil whispers to him again
Valin's sister is so stupid for holding that against her wrongly accussed Uncle. She has to see the evidences and move on so they can all heal. Her Uncle and the whole family has suffered enough for nothing.
The problem is just like her father said she and her brother were children when the girl died, and they basically been brainwashed to think that way, by the family, the community, by the news etc. It’s very hard to change their minds now. I hope with time they learn to accept the court results as the niece said the adults knew him before the girl death, and just believed the court, then they should believe now.
I agree! She has a lot of life lessons to learn... she mad for her uncle going to jail.. omg!!! Think about how your uncle feels he served time in. Prison and was a marked man! Everything including his freedom was taken, his family turned against him... for lies the Prosecutors, police officers said and did!!!!! Girl.. you know how many INNOCENT Men and Women are still in prison! Right now!!! and are still till this Day convicted or being charged. With crimes when they are innocent because of corrupted people also. A very corrupted Justice system!!!! How many guilty people walk among us in the street day after day how many guilty people get away with murder and rape and so many other horrible things!!!!! NO! it doesn't seem. Like everyone forgot about her your( little sister ) 🙏💔 I think you don't understand what's happening. I think you don't deserve to be his neice.. he seems like a loving person with a big heart for his family. You seem like you want people to feel sorry for you! For what?? Nothing happened to you! Grow up! Learn some life lessons.. no one just goes to jail for no reason! Girl I wanted to slap 😤
God bless! 🙏 you Bill threw out your life and choices.
...for her to want to shoot him!!!...an innocent man!!!!!
i think this girl is stupid saying ppl go to preson for a reason but theres a lot of innocent ppl in our preson today
I can't imagine losing my child & thinking someone close to me did it & I can't imagine being convicted of killing someone I love & sitting in jail while my family thinks I did it. This whole story is heartbreaking for everyone.
Cademan Caden totally agree!
Yes,
I've cried several times watching this. The thing is that the brothers seem so gentle and kind.Im so sorry for this family 💔
OMG yes. Have only watched the first minute and completely heartbroken.
And it's all the fault of our "incredible" system! So sad!
It truly is and I hope he was compensated although not any amount of money can make up for 12 years of your life
The adult niece saying that if she had a gun she would kill her uncle Bill is very disturbing and she needs to be placed in psychological care! She is more than old enough to understand the details of the false forensic evidence and the REAL forensics. Then to say that any person who goes to jail has to have done something bc people don’t just get put in jail for no reason. She is not that naive and she even contradicted herself as she was saying those ridiculous things
I literally just prayed his living niece learns quickly that innocent people go to jail everyday. The amount he suffered is unimaginable. Sometimes I think people have to believe the justice system works, or else their entire sense of safety is a lie.
Hit it right on the head. Even when presented with convincing evidence that goes in favor of the accused, they're STILL unwilling to budge because the accused must be guilty!
I've been there. You go to jail just to wait and go to court to get your innocence proven.. but they scare you into taking plea deals saying they will send you to jail for 20 years unless you plead no contest!! The injustice system is what it is .. in US and Canada. They want their money . It all boils down to that. That grown woman is naive if she thinks no one goes to jail if their innocent. HAHA
She was blessed with a loving uncle, I hope someday she realizes that.
The niece said, " nobody goes to prison for nothing" the world is full of people who went to prison wrongly convicted, and a great deal were executed then found innocent beyond a shadow of doubt, at least he survived his ordeal- many died and that was irreversible.she , the niece needs help!!
the niece is uneducated still angry and bitter...
otherwise she would understand it does hapend , people go to prison even they are innocent ...in this world even justice system makes mistake like releasing serial killers or imprisonment innocent person...if she has any inteligence in time she comes around, but if she was poison from early age by her bitter grieving mother that might never happend!!
WHO DUNNIT.!!!!!
the niece should read the case of Steven Truscott and David Milgard.
@@moniquefennet4196 Ever seen the fear of 13. Netflix. Innocent guy on death row for over 20 years. Incredible...superb.
In what world do people not go to prison for nothing?
How bigoted, mean-spirited and thoroughly dimwitted the niece is.😫
Ian Strange she’s a stupid person is the only way to describe her
very ignorant as well....there are many wrongfully convicted ppl in prison
That brother next to her don't look too bright either. Kinda creepy the way he just stares at the "pretty blonde famous news lady!" 😶🤪
Grief and pain can come out in some extreme ways. Also this all happend when she was a child wich can cause some pretty messed up trauma.
Trauma is one of those things that can mess up someones whole life and you will always have outstanders that will not be able tor grasp that until they will come across something themself.
Some Niece who would want the likes of her nothing but a fool what school did she go to? a gobshite
His mother really loves him so much, there's nothing like a mother's love for a son no matter what.
This young girl, the neice/goddaughter that says she would KILL the uncle, EVEN AFTER it’s been proven that HE was a victim and innocent, and says ‘no one goes to jail for no reason’ is sooooooooooo incredibly IGNORANT. It’s both shameful and sad. I pray she comes to her senses one day. And that SHE or any of HER kids are never victims of misinformation and false accusations. What a mess!
It wasn’t really proven he was innocent or guilty.
Mercury, exactly! My heart goes out to her but when she said that, I literally gasped out loud. How can she possibly believe that no 1 is ever fall asleep in prison? Especially Indigenous people like herself and other black and brown people. I feel sorry for her, but I feel even worse for this whole family. What the system did to them is absolutely unforgivable.
The ego of professionals will always ruin people's lives.
And corruption with them and the cops!
@@Liverpoolboy01 Your absolutely right! one of the biggest problems with cops is their ego they are total egomaniacs not peace officers,their egos escalate every situation.
Amen to that!!!
@@shannanbrennan612 Church Say Amen
Especially that arrogant pathologist who thinks his sh#t don’t stink
As for the arrogant and unrepentant doctor who made the first autopsy, only one word comes to mind - KARMA.
I was shocked the niece still hates him after she got the facts! How cruel she is to her uncle.
Not the sharpest bulb in the crayon box it would seem.
It comes from her not knowing anything else and negative input from her mother.
He received $4.25 million in 2010. That will never buy his sanity back. :(
Sounds like a lot.... but a quarter of it paid his legal bills....
I don't know how much would be enough but I know it's not 4.25 million. Such a devastating story.
But I am sure that if he had a choice he would rather not gone through what he had.
@@jonye7511 my point was that there is no pricetag on what happened to him. He will never be the same again.
I wonder if his niece still wants to kill him?
The mom is the greatest thing in the world
This is so unbelievably sad. I wish I could give this guy a hug, the whole family. I think his goddaughter is an idiot though. It's not like he fought a murder conviction and won, he was cleared of any wrongdoing and was given a formal apology, the cause of death officially changed and ruled natural. At some point you start to drop the grudge.
Elizabeth Francis---Well said...I completely agree, try a little compassion, maybe???
agreed the fact that she hasn't dropped it says to me that she has an unhealthy state of mind.
It sounds like the childs mother broke up with the father. That bitterness is easily transfered to the children. That horrendous event changed their life forever. That godchild chose to punch down at the true victim instead of punch up at the real criminals in this case. Her character is truely lacking.
The Goddaughter has some screws loose.
It's the way her mom raised her cutting her off the grandmother's life and feeding her hate.
Even if he actually killed her sister, the mom should have tried to raise a healthy daughter. She did not had to lose all of her kids.
How broken that dad is brings me to tears. A few women in this seem heartless. Smirking that he hit the bottle, wtf.
Totally agree
Agree, He seems like a man that needs so much love. I would marry him right now 😁🥰
Mother and daughter appear to have a lot in common.
People go to jail for no reason all the time....not sure how she can't see that?
The lady that says oh ppl don’t go to jail for nothing...well hunny Bill did!
I pray your children grow up with more sense than you. Smh.
It’s not that cut and dried. Trauma has some terrible impacts on how we view the world. So unless you have suffered this level of trauma which I hope you never have or will experience then you can’t understand what she went through. We can only try to understand the dynamics of why she said what she said. It starts by examining her cultural view of life
@@thetraveller334 she's an idiot, plain and simple
Same here. Maybe it’s how her parents explained it to her when she is small.Also if she is smart , she knows thing like this happens.
Good for Billy sticking to his guns and not taking the plea deal. Even if it means life in prison -it also means integrity is held. And in the end it’s between you and god and God is the one who knows the truth.
Sadly a lot of wrongfully convicted people are too scared of getting life or death sentences so they chose to plead guilty ... thats the reality ..
@@88feji Yes if that's a possibility the likelihood of innocent people being convicted skyrockets. I think that's why these cases are relatively few in Canada. We make our justice system work to get a conviction. Having the death penalty makes for lazy law enforcement and judicial systems.
•Jo• looks like god did him pretty well so far. Oh wait, no he didn’t
The courts: “He didn’t commit murder”…
His niece: whatever, I still want to blame him…🙈😑
Why don’t we put lawyers and judges in prison for mistakes
That pathologist who is still working and in complete denial should have been struck off. He has questionable morality and that is something in a pathologist is extremely frightening when they should care about the victims and the victims families more than themselves.
The pathologist who had to attend a hearing because he had made countless other flaws in other cases was quite clearly a sociopath. There was nothing genuine about his apology and quite frankly irrespective of what he said about hoping he was forgiven - I really don't think it would have mattered either way to his conscience.
They get away with their arrogance (and shoddy work) because their cases are already dead - a doctor making such mistakes with living patients could not hide his or her incompetence for so long - the consequence would be much more obvious to the laypersons.
The signs that were mistaken for evidence of abuse did not sound so extraordinary - it sounded as if there are many possible cases where such signs can appear - and a pathologist with experience would be careful to take that possibility of misleading signs into account.
These guys enjoyed some stardom.
Xyz Same Xyz Yeah I completely agree and it's an upsetting and scary prospect. Surely things could be put in place where such events may be able to be made less likely i.e. Random checks by a system which reviews cases every so often (which obviously brings about its own problems given the deceased at the time of such checks may have been buried or cremated, but still).
The problem is also that just because someone is trained and qualified, as we see in the documentary; these pathologists were known in their field to be "the best" and that power means although they may be experienced, people forget that they too are people with their own outlooks and can still be biased, or even depending on the personality may see it as a way to gain more stardom by being part of such an investigation. It's difficult, and as you say i am sure many more mistakes happen within the field on a daily basis and I'm sure not all are done with malicious intent as what I mentioned above but such cant be ruled out and to just get to a place where it is a taken that a professional is "at the top of their game so to speak" and that there is bow no need to question their conclusions; for even law enforcement to disagree at times but feel and to be told not to peruse such doubts because of the power a leading pathologist has (which I have seen has been the case in other situations which have came to light) is just wrong I personally think. Everyone can make mistakes and so to never not question someone just because of their profession and the power that can bring and the effects that may have constituency wise - is baffling to me.
It has a lot to do with what you say about the fact people are deceased and in many situations not always getting to the bottom of things properly due to the fact it is just a "case closed" scenario and then can be set aside; when families have the faith that what they are told is the truth and then have to come to terms with however their love one died - impacts people every day after that loved one has passed, which is why I feel so disturbed by it i think. I just like to think that pathologists who have such responsibilities should be vetted and not just able to do a job because they have the qualifications - and i think that goes for many professions where such important responsibilities are placed on a person really, even if it is to safeguard them as well - the pressures that can come with such professions; Doctors etc inclusive of that because all too often we see malpractice in those areas too.
I didn't catch if they disclosed the results of a rape kit. DNA doesn't lie. I don't believe the Uncle did this, if there was no DNA I suppose the conclusion would be he used a condom...however, the pooling speaks and if she choked on vomit, that should be recognized.
The original pathologist cannot admit he made an error. Some people can't I work in a hospital, we had a young patient in surgery who appeared to have been anally violated. Everyone of us in the room agreed what we saw was suspicious. Parents were informed and as by law was reported as suspicion. Investigation came back unfounded. Do I feel any guilt about suspecting? No. We are our patients advocate and have not only an obligation, but a moral sense to protect any patient that shows signs of abuse. The only explanation we drew was relaxation from anesthetics. I never saw this before or since.
Simply One Mortality 👍👍👍👍👍
The day the little girl died, 2 souls were lost.
#Sad
The people who put him in jail, should be prosecuted with a jail sencence as long as the one bill served.
@@susanturner8873 totally agree...what they did to this man and his family is criminal...
This was nothing but a “witchhunt“ and as they said at the beginning of the program back those years they were almost in a panic over sexual abuse of any kind. But what’s particularly sad about this is that this man’s family turned on him. I pray that he has a chance to get some what of a life back.
That so called doctor should be thrown in jail!
People go to jail for nothing all the time!
I have been to jail and convicted falsely. I am still fighting to clear my name almost four years later.
Yeah, that lady didn't know what she was talking about. People get wrongfully convicted and sent to prison all the time.
'People just don't go to jail for no reason.' She said that AFTER he was publicly declared wrongly convicted. What is in that Canadian water they're sipping on?
You should be so lucky to drink canadian water
Wow
I would tell that niece that doesn't believe he is innocent, what comes around, goes around.
People don’t go to jail for no reason. Except David Millgaard, except Guy Paul Mornin, excerpt Robert Baltovich, except Donald Marshall Jr etc....
I also cannot believe what she said. Many people wrongly convicted. Did she ever trying to find out the reason why he was released? He has suffer a lot, I hope he didn't ever listen or see that idiot girl!
Bill, your pain, anger, disillusionment with the justice system, your loneliness and frustration is all so real and justified.
You would like to live a normal life now, but feel stuck.
I hope counseling and your own amazing intelligence will carve a way for you to live and thrive.
I watched you on youtube deliver a speech at a place in Manitoba and saw how articulate you are. Through your painful experience you are a voice for others.
Your life has value, Bill.
You are an innocent loving man.
Don't be afraid to tell a possible companion your story, be frank right from the beginning and if she walks away, well, what great way to weed out the ones who would not be adequate anyway.
The right one will come along. Just wait and see.
Life is bloody unfair isn't it, if Hamolka can live a full life with marriage and children of her own, why can't an innocent wrongful treated, caring, intelligent man like you get a clear second chance at life and put the past where it belongs--a terrible nightmare that was real!
Good luck to you Bill. I'm a grandmother that is empathetic to your situation.
The niece says you don't go to prison for nothing but they sure don't exonerate someone from murder and turn the conviction around without some definite proof of being innocent! They don't like to admit when they are wrong so they sure wouldn't let him out if there was even 1% doubt of his innocents! I hope this family can move forward and heal. An innocent man spent a long time in prison for nothing! I hope he can move forward and rebuild his life.. RIP young angel fly high..
That niece clearly isn't the brightest crayon in the box. She's delusional and confused. Also, if anything happens to him, that threat should be taken seriously. She's slow, talkin' bout people don't go to jail for nothing. DELUSIONAL.
She's too young to understand whats going on ... sadly ..
88feji she’s an adult
What children are taught sinks in and often lasts a lifetime. She's another casualty. Not everyone is Einstein.
Grief and pain can come out in some extreme ways. Also this all happend when she was a child wich can cause some pretty messed up trauma.
Trauma is one of those things that can mess up someones whole life and you will always have outstanders that will not be able tor grasp that until they will come across something themself.
I know. She should follow up on the Association for thr Wrongly Convicted. She might learn something there.
These doctors should be held accountable for the destruction of this family, their findings have a huge effect on the lives of people, they need to be absolutely positive n what they present, a sad situation all round
Luke cus Cuss my mother was a registered nurse when this girl was in the plummer hospital after she was raped
Luke cus Cuss the doctors didn't put him in jail. a jury did.
@@robingagan6288 I think you watched the wrong video. No one went to hospital for being raped. In fact, there _was no rape!_
@@mattymag2394 The "doctors" (pathologists) decided there had been physical and sexual abuse - they were _very_ wrong, and highly incompetent (as discovered by true specialists - lots of them). Without this, uh, "evidence" things would have gone in another direction entirely.
I feel like part of a compensation for all of his struggles should be a free long term family counseling. A bare minimum in my opinion.
There can be nothing more terrifying than being convicted and jailed when you know you are innocent. The compensation he received can never give him back his life.
No sweetheart ppl do go to jail for no REASON
Kimberly Worthing ii
Sad but true.
I feel sad for her and to think she has children is frightening
Everyday
She's so misguided.
What his neice said made absolutely no sense.
This story just broke my HEART
His niece needs to mature some more she is a young lady with two kids what part does she not understand her uncle was falsely convicted and as far as they don't put you in jail for nothing she is very wrong we are in 2019 and there is people getting exonerated every day
Very true.
Its a shame how delusional the other daughter became
"Dr." Smith and the other pathologist from the hospital gives the medical field a bad name. What failures.
The arrogant "I'm not wrong" Malaysian guy? "Dr." Bhubendra Rasaiah.
If anyone thinks their life is hard just watch this.
*_EXACTLY!!!_*
This story is absolutely disgusting since an innocent man was imprisoned for NOTHING. His family utterly destroyed. And do these specialists care about what they did. NOPE NOT IN THE SLIGHTEST. THEY PROBABLY CONGRATULATED THEMSELVES AND CONTINUED TO ENJOY A HIGH PAYING JOB AND LIFESTYLE. ABSOLUTELY SICKENING.
.
The "specialist" who still insists he was right, seemed so smug. He seemed to think that he's incapable of even making a mistake.
Isnt it awful that people in power can abuse that power with no repercussions? The goddaughter who stated "people don't just go to prison for no reason" is a fool. Thank goodness there are agencies that help the wrongfully convicted like the Innocence Project headed by Barry Schenk.
One word comes to mind - KARMA.
I'm a firm believer in Karma. This could happen to them, especially that arrogant "specialist" who claim he didn't make a mistake.
When you are up for jury duty, remember this.
Too many innocent people go to prison and jurors can get bullied into changing their vote. If you have doubts, stand your ground. Experts are people and people aren't infallible.
the goddaughter is SO stupid. and she has no heart at all... what a shame, I feel so sorry for him :'(
She's heartless and narrow minded
@@melpopioco1961 she was 5 years old when her little sister died. She likely never got counselling and she lived through an intense trial where she likely was exposed by family members to graphic details of sexual assault and murder. She needs help and she needs to understand that her godfather is innocent of any crime but I don’t think it’s fair to say that she’s heartless and stupid.
12 yrs in prison for wrongful conviction, i'm absolutely disgusted. How can people have faith in a justice system if this is allowed to happen. William Mullins-Johnson, you are one strong man. By rights you should have been awarded compensation. I know this will not make up for the loss of family connection and the 12 years of your life, but authorities need to be held accountable. So sorry for your loss. I wish you well.
Did this innocent man not receive any compensation?
Yes, I think he did.
Million per year is what he should get!
@@ralphmajor1947 not enough and I heard he spent it all with no education and still the mindset of the age he was when he went in 😭
@@ralphmajor1947 I heard 19 million
People DO go to jail for nothing! Wake up! Another justice failure!
Omg Bill, If you ever see this, I’m so sorry and hope you live the happiest life you can. God knows you deserve every blessing❤️
He most certainly does. I adore him and I'm with him 100%!
Sickening to watch, none of us can start to imagine what this man has been through and will always go through emotionally and mentally.
In prison it must have been unimaginably tough because if nothing else ,cons love their kids.
My dad was wrongfully convicted and served 2.5 years. I absolutely do not trust our justice system.
The niece that still believes he is quilty and said you don't go to jail for nothing is a sad young girl. I hope any of her children arent found guilty if innocent.
Kathryn Ellison---my thoughts EXACTLY !!! Why is she so angry---she didn't spend 12 years in prison---I think she's just a sad girl that wants everything to always be about HER.
I think its more about the TRAUMA that she has been through...she is angry and hurt and needs therapy. The entire family does.
She definitely needs therapy, she clear has never worked through all of the issues associated to what she’s been through. I can’t even imagine how she must feel to claim that everyone forgot her little sister accept for her.
Kathryn Ellison or accused of being a witch. "nobody is burned alive without being guilty"
My thoughts exactly. How naive is Jean. She has a lot to learn about this terrible corrupted system that we are urged and expected to trust.
This was absolutely heart breaking to watch to the end. A child lost her life, the siblings lost a sister, the father and mother lost a child, the uncle lost his freedom, the grandmother lost her family and grand child, the father lost a brother. If there is any justice in this world this family will one day make peace with each other. That is all there is left that is a glimmer of some kind of positive for all of them.
the grandmother didn't abandon her grandchildren. That was on the mother and father.
Incredibly sad. What Bill and his family went through is horrific. I don't know what Canadian law allows in medical malpractice, but if ever there was a doctor who deserved to be sued for everything he's got, it's that monster who got the autopsy for very wrong and refuses to accept any responsibility. He destroyed so many lives and yet goes on about his business as if nothing happened.
good luck bill. I hope u find some beauty in the world. god knows u deserve it.
kim mc cooking
kim mc cooking
This is so heart broken to watch 😭 a loving uncle got wrongly accused for his own blood niece's death
SO heartbroken for Bill. The scene with the 2 brothers at Valens grave was devastating. His life was absolutely stolen from him. Your in my prayers. All of you.
It's a crime Canada doesn't allow the not guilty sentenced person to SUE EVERYBODY who put him there. This is a travesty. I wish him well tho I'm not sure he can ever heal from this miscarriage of "Justice". It's a shame he doesn't consider moving on in another community and start over again. He is a gentle man. He deserves unconditional love and support for his addiction. I hope he "wins" that battle.
Jan Warriner I think we do have compensation for being wrongly convicted so unno if it's only in certain provinces or what but I wonder if he got any compensation.
Here in the States, he would have received millions$
Wow -- you mean they don't know who actually did it? Oh, I see, they're now simply saying it could have been natural causes. ??? Like what??? Very boring listening to his voice -- he is very monotone/stoic.
Jan Warriner In the US he would have been allowed to sue.
@@JenLovesBenz
Hello Jenny, I googled him and he received $4.5million compensation. I do hope he overcame his addiction or it might be whittled away and he will find himself destitute and alone - except for his wonderful mother.
The justice system has destroyed the life of the supposed convicted criminal. They have destroyed his life from day one when he was wrongly accused. That pathologist was a "kwacck" .
The center of the family, the mother, is a true mother.
What a heartbreaking story. I really don't think people realize the extent of the damage of a wrongful conviction like that. The apologies, the compensation - nothing makes the situation better. Nothing turns the clocks back.
Our system is very broken that law enforcement can influence a case to fit their suspicions.
"He received an apology"....... Oooo that'll make it alright then !!!!
I don't think it was fair putting grandma in the middle, what else could she do ?
Only 19 minutes in and bill is clearly innocent. Well spoken and convincing. I really really feel for him and anyone else wrongly accused!
Yeah well him being interviewed outside of prison was a clue.
I've experienced a betrayal as heinous as this. It's soul crushing. I wake up everyday wondering how much longer I must live to experience the pain of unbearable betrayal.
THIS STORY IS WHY I LOVE THE FIFTH ESTATE...SUCH INCREDIBLY INTERESTING STORIES...STORIES THAT ARE FASCINATING. REALLY GREAT JOB JILLIAN FINDLAY! ❤🧡💛💚💙
I think the daughter at the end is a little dramatic attention seeker.
Kelly McKinnon agreed!
Totally agreed
Kelly McKinnon That's EXACTLY what I thought, too.
ABSOLUTELY !!!
I totally agreed. And how she says people don’t just go to jail for nothing. Her uncle is was wrongly confivicted!
I am absolutely gob smacked that after being completely exonerated that this mans family continues to hate him. His god daughters statement is so ignorant. Does she not know how to read? Does she not have access to the Internet? How would she feel if she was wrongfully convicted and then shunned basically the whole world? This man will remain broken until she wakes up to reality and sincerely believes he is innocent. It's obvious to me that it truly does not matter to him that everyone else believes him and so long as she hates him then he will still be in prison. And to say Valin was forgotten- what do you mean? Honestly I don't think that I could ever forget about this beautiful little girl named Valin Johnson. The little girl that left us far too soon that if she could, she would do everything and anything she could to bring her family back together so they could all remember together, just how beautiful she truly was.
Toxicity everywhere. She's brainwashed. It's not her fault.
With the hundreds of crime docos I've watched over the years, this one has brought me to tears. Such a tragic story. I hope Billy can get back some semblance of a happy life. And thank god for his Mum.
Did he get compensated for his time.
When he broke down in the cemetery 😢😢😢 that was me finished
I believed the uncle instantly. This story is disgusting and heartbreaking.
That family had way 2 much faith in the justice system which was the biggest mistake of their lives
That's true, but their first two mistakes were believing in the Medical System (that doctors/pathologists are infallible gods), and instantly _disbelieving_ their brother/brother-in-law (etc.) whom none of them had ever doubted or suspected of such criminality, or sexual impropriety, _ever before._
I watch a good amount of documentaries and this one made me way more emotional than any other one ever has. I wish the best to everyone in the family..
“ people don’t go to prison for no reason…” most ignorant statement I have ever heard! 🤦🏼♀️
Why can't his niece see that Bill is the victim in this?! Poor family.
She's twisted and doesn't want to admit she was wrong or misled for all of 12 years. it the worse kind of pride you can find ..very bad.
How can the remaining niece say she would kill him? Then says she isn’t still angry at just him....why is she angry at him? People don’t go to jail for nothing? That’s exactly what happened.... I guess she is perfect and has done no wrong? I simply can’t understand her rational for hating him and saying she would kill him when everyone has said he did no wrong....that is so harsh and unforgivable.....let’s hope she never gets accused of something she didn’t do....I can understand not wanting to have a relationship with him but so much misplaced hatred.
And if either her or her brother were wrongly convicted of something the first person that would be there would be her Godfather/Uncle Bill. I couldn't believe what she said. Smh so sad.
It seems like she desperately wants to blame someone and he’s the scapegoat. Ugh! I hate the circumstances of this tragic death.
Worse than that, she as good as admitted it was the people with the false evidence that created this suspicion in the first place. in other words, she blamed them. she exonerated him there,yet her naive belief that innocent people do not go to jail meant he was guilty even if he was proven innocent. what a horrible and twisted mind. Bill loved and cared for her and her sister when mom and dad wasn't around. if only she could remember how loving he was to her. btw, had he been guilty, how come he did not abuse her also? twisted women might even start thinking that way, that she was abused also. she sounds capable of that.anything to fit the narrative of what she believed for 12 years.
Prayers for this torn family to heal together and stay strong for each other. The girl that said she would shoot her uncle if she had a gun obviously needs mental help. She is not only speaking of her family, but an innocent man! And she knows that he's innocent! She definitely needs some kind of help.
It's the experts who should be jailed for destroying a man's life, disgusting treatment by family, and injustices by the Law.Very sad heart breaking.
I'm confused about the niece. on one hand, during her formative years, she has been taught to hate her uncle and on the other, she has grown and a mother, she should be able to understand that wrongful convictions do happen. regardless, thinking of killling the man shows that she is just a bad person nothing to do with issue
She is pure evil but her stupid mother teach her how to hate
One look at the guy...come on....there is no way he did it. He is a big softie and hats off to mum for sticking with him. I admire his honesty and down to earth way. It goes to show how the justice system can get it so wrong and be toxic and influence peoples thinking...from the jury to the family. That pathologist should of been taken to task through the courts for his incompetence and ripple effect through so many peoples lives, that is criminal.
He remind me a lot of my cousin. When he was a toddler he fell in the water and was found blue. He was revived but it has affected him mentally. He's just a big ole softie.
I'm so glad he's finally got his life back. I sure hope that the remaining niece & nephew can put their bitterness behind them and realise that he really is an innocent man .
If the parents can accept he's innocent then they have to aswell.
Who cried when Bill cried at Valin's gravesite?
👇
Marie F I broke my heart 😭😭
What is wrong with the grown kids they still think he's guilty? Do they have FAS? Are they challenged? It's so odd and unusual that they don't seem to understand what the findings mean? Not very logical! Even in the photos of her chest you could tell it was the pooling of blood due to lividity! Why does that so called pathologist have a job still?
Charisse Linnell-Morton i believe its because thats was drilled into their heads since childhood now as adults they are confused theyre probably lashing out
Ikr, I think they're slow or something. There's no way you can be mentally healthy and be unable to realise that he didn't do it and that the findings were wrong.
Charisse Linnell-Morton 👍👍👍👍👍 the niece is not exactly the sharpest tool in the shed.
Charisse Linnell-Morton i think they are the challenged one. Her comment was like really ?? That's what you have to say
Thank God he's out, but what caused her death?
I hope your doing ok. Thank you Bill for doing this documentary Im sure it wasn't essy.
Easy not essy
I have watched thousands of crime episodes. This one breaks my heart. Such a lovely man. The niece needs to get a grip. He did nothing and the stress she will be causing will not be helping this family heal!
The two siblings were too young to develop this kind of emotional attachment to Valin. My suspicion, based on what I've read and watched, is that Valin's mother and other relatives influenced them to the point where they've convinced themselves that he is guilty. I do not buy the tears, as cruel as it sounds. "Everyone forgot her," said the sister. Really? You didn't grow up in the shadow of her death, not even knowing who she was? I wouldn't be surprised if her family hasn't romanticized her small life and thereby led the two siblings into becoming sort of drowned out and left to then build their own identities on top of the wreckage. The man is innocent. No amount of myth making about Valin, who they surely do not remember with any kind of vivid power, will change that
The family's two remaining children (interviewed at the end) seem more than a bit slow. The sister especially. Does she understand that her uncle didn't do anything??! And she still wants to kill him??! Crazy. She must be intellectually challenged.
you have no clue was shes been through, is still going through, how dare you !!! are u like this openly, or, just here??
Right. She sounded so stupid
Lin Reynolds She's a complete nut job.
12 years whit and uncle how they have been told is a pedofile? They have been told that most of the life. It's sad too red tha the are slow, brain dad.... but for me is say more abot you then them
The whole family seems a little behind.
This is truly heartbreaking and avoidable. These so called experts need to be brought to book and pay a price for their incompetence. I wish Bill and his family all the very best.
Cried watching this!! Omg this poor man. This is a travesty!! And what’s the sister in law chatting!! Of course his mum will stand by him over ANYONE including her grandchildren. My God what utter rubbish. I pray, you Bill have the happiest life ever!!
Good on you Paul for taking Bill to your daughter's grave, it would have provided the next stage of healing for you both. RIP little Val. Am relieved that you did not go through the abuse that the experts described. The fact that the neice called her daughter Val makes me worry that the mother will make her continue the confusion and hate when it really should be put to rest and not passed onto the next generaton as though it is her legacy bcs it's not, nothing good will come from that.
Terribly sad story
This episode was so riveting and horrifying! What a story...Bill MJ has endured such an unbelievable trauma. It must be completely terrifying and maddening to be accused,tried, and convicted when you're innocent of all charges. This series is incredibly good.
Read Kafka's "The Trial".
I would never!! Never ever!! Talk to my brother again. In fact I would remind him of that everyday
That doctor who did the autopsy needs to be held accounted for
I am crushed. I hope his family will heal. And I hope he can find some peace. What courage to tell his story.
This is disgusting, this is sloppy work. The family are all in denial and these kids are so tainted. The really need therapy as a whole
She said “ ppl don’t just go to jail for nothin” ……. Hahahaha does she not comprehend the documentary she is in ????…… wow.
Really great work, as usual, from The Fifth Estate.🏆🥇
Not only wrongfully convicted, but incarcerated as a child rapist and murderer. Not overly popular amongst the prison population. Very lucky to have even survived his imprisonment.