TORONTO - The next phase of Steven Truscott's appeal of his 1959 murder conviction will be televised from the Ontario Court of Appeal starting Jan. 29.
The Canadian Press has learned Attorney General Michael Bryant approved a plan to televise Truscott's appeal hearing as part of his plan to get cameras into some courts.
Bryant confirmed the plan, and said people will be able to see the lawyers' arguments instead of relying on second- or third-hand media reports.
Ontario's highest court could uphold or set aside Truscott's conviction for the murder of 12-year-old Lynne Harper, order a new trial or acquit him.
Truscott, who has always maintained his innocence, was sentenced to death at age 14, but that was later commuted to life in prison.
He was paroled after a decade behind bars.
The Crown conceded in a lengthy brief to the Ontario Court of Appeal made public this week that it would be impractical to retry Truscott.
It said evidence has been destroyed, witnesses are either dead or unavailable to testify, and the passage of time has dulled memories to the point of unreliability.
