I was wrongfully convicted of SA. I served my sentence and was released. 2018 I got out. What are my options to prove my innocence now. I know there is the criminal conviction review. But is there anything else?
I'm also having difficulty obtaining the required documents for the conviction review. Ive tried contacting different places and they all have told me to contact someone else who then says they can't help either. I've even asked the courthouse where the trial took place and they told me they switch their record system so they don't have anything before 2018. I feel hopeless, but i am determined to clear my name.
For a bit of context i was charged because they received money and would receive help from CAS until she turned 25 if she was a "victim of SA"
During the original trial my lawyer showed up without any evidence i had handed over, which included many letters from people giving me their support and provided a description of my good character.
I was put on the stand first having no real idea specifically what i would be excused of. i had no idea what i should have said. That was my only chance to speak, i was not allowed to speak again throughout the trial. Never once did my lawyer object or do anything to help me throughout the trial. The best he tried to do was ask her if she would receive money for being a victim of SA which she actually replied that she had received money in her account that day. The judge dismissed this and told my lawyer not to bring up money again.
Even still she couldn't keep lies straight and the judge dismissed 12 out of the 16 charges because of catching the lies. But despite that the judge kept giving her chance after chance until she came up with a believable enough lie. Again I wasn't allowed to say anything. For the lie the judge went with for my conviction when she said that "incident" happened i wasn't even there. I left to go get something from the store.
In the end the judge basically said i must be guilty because nobody showed up to my trial. I had no one standing behind me so that showed I'm guilty.
I didn't have anyone there because i didn't want to bother anyone with having to show up to my court date. But again i had given my lawyer a bunch of letters from people who said they stood behind me and my lawyer chose not to bring them to the trial.
The trial was originally supposed to be 3 days but it was done after 1. I had been denied a jury so the decision was done by the judge only. I was sent to jail which was very traumatic especially because i was ripped away from my children and missed out on important years of their lives that i will never ever get back. as well as them having to hear things about me that weren't true.
Part of rhe judges decision was that i be put on the sex offender registry for life and check in ever year which again i don't understand considering alot of people who actually have been charged with disgusting SA offences and had undisputable proof of these offences only get put on the list for 10 years. I once asked the officer doing my yearly check in about being removed from it and she told me i was actually on two lists. The one for the province as well as the National registry like wtf.
I did try to appeal it but they chose to keep the sentence at what it was and again i was never allowed to defend myself or say anything all the appeal judge did was look over my disclosure and read the transcripts from the original trial which were 75% blacked out. And almost everything i had said was blacked out.
Sorry for the long story I'm just at a loss of what to do. I have never SA anyone. And I'm not looking to send the person who accused me of it to jail. I wouldn't wish that even on them. I just want to prove my innocence, clear my record And be erased from the offenders registry.
I'm asking for whatever advice or suggestions anyone has. Please any information would be appreciated