Court Rejects Bitternose’s Appeal For New Trial
Friday, May 08, 2009 at 15:35
An Aboriginal man appealing a life sentence for first-degree murder will have to stay in jail.
The Saskatchewan Court of Appeal has dismissed Quinton Lloyd Bitternose’s request for a new trial.
Two years ago, 31-year-old Quinton Lloyd Bitternose was sentenced to life in prison without parole for 25 years. He was found guilty in the November 2004 death of Wayne Gerald Friday.
Friday was found shot to death in the trunk of a vehicle.
Bitternose’s lawyer, Tim Brown, cited several reasons for a new trial. For example, at one point, Bitternose was ejected from the courtroom.
Brown said the trial judge also refused to grant an adjournment when Bitternose couldn’t find another lawyer to represent him.
Bitternose complained that the jury hearing the trial was all white, but the Appeal court was told at least two jurors were non-Caucasian.
The appeal court ruled that Bitternose got a fair trial, so there was no basis for a new trial.