AIDWYC Exonerations: Individual Cases

Robert Baltovich

Robert Baltovich was convicted of first-degree murder in 1992, following the 1990 disappearance of his girlfriend, Elizabeth Bain. Neither her body nor a murder weapon has ever been found.

In March 2000, at a bail hearing pending the hearing of his appeal at the Ontario Court of Appeal, AIDWYC presented substantial new evidence that suggested both that Mr. Baltovich was innocent and that Ms. Bain had been a victim of the Scarborough Rapist, by that time known to be Paul Bernardo. Mr. Baltovich was released on bail.

In September 2004, twelve years after his conviction, Mr. Baltovich's appeal was heard and the conviction quashed by a unanimous Court of Appeal. A new trial was subsequently ordered. On April 22 2008, the Crown decided to call no evidence against Mr. Baltovich and he was acquitted.