A man from New Brunswick who was wrongly imprisoned for murder for 18 years has passed away at the age of 77. Robert Mailman lived with the burden of a wrongful conviction for more than half of his life. Despite being acquitted of the crime less than two years ago, Mailman succumbed to liver cancer.
In 1984, Mailman and his childhood friend Walter Gillespie were convicted of the 1983 murder of George Gilman Leeman in Saint John. Both maintained their innocence throughout the trial, but were sentenced to life in prison without parole for 18 years and 21 years, respectively. The two men sought a federal criminal conviction review with the help of Innocence Canada in December 2019, but their appeal was denied by the New Brunswick Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court of Canada.
In November 2023, Mailman’s health deteriorated rapidly when he was diagnosed with terminal liver cancer after collapsing during exercise. Following a plea for a new trial, the federal justice minister ordered a retrial, citing new information that had not been presented in court. Born in Saint John in 1948, Mailman was known for staying active in prison through various jobs and exercise routines.
After the Crown decided not to present evidence in the new trial, Chief Justice Tracey DeWare acquitted Mailman and Gillespie of all charges, declaring them innocent. The court acknowledged the “miscarriage of justice” that led to their wrongful convictions. Innocence Canada highlighted several flaws in the prosecution, including recanted testimonies, withheld evidence, and disregard for alibis.
In January 2024, Mailman was able to witness his exoneration before his health further declined. He expressed gratitude for the support he received and reflected on the irreparable loss of time spent away from his family, particularly mourning the death of his two sons during his time in prison. Despite his declining health, Mailman remained resolute in his determination to keep moving forward until the end.
