Marco Trotta is enjoying his first full day of freedom in nine years after being released on bail pending appeal of his conviction for murdering his infant son.
Trotta was convicted in part by evidence from Dr. Charles Smith, whose work is being scrutinized by a public inquiry. The Trotta family always claimed that eight-month-old Paulo died of natural causes, likely sudden infant death syndrome.
Smith's findings in 20 of 45 child autopsies he conducted since 1991 are being questioned, including Trotta's. Twelve of the 20 autopsies resulted in criminal convictions and one in a finding of not criminally responsible.
Outside of Fenbrook Prison for the first time, with his wife Anisa by his side, Trotta said he had mixed emotions.
"I'm happy, I'm distraught, my feelings right now are just, I want to go home (and) I want to put this nightmare just behind me," Trotta said.
The 38-year-old was found guilty of second-degree murder in 1998. He was given a life sentence with no chance of parole for 15 years.
Trotta was released on $100,000 bail Wednesday. After the court decision, Anisa described the last nine years as "torture." The family's lawyer Michael Lomar called it "a big day."
Trotta and his wife are living in a Brampton, Ont. basement apartment. He is still under strict bail conditions which include not having contact with his other children.
The murder conviction is now being appealed to the Supreme Court of Canada. Trotta will be free until the court date in October.
With a report from CTV's MairiAnna Bachynsky
