Exhaustive Sophonow inquiry ends hearings

After eight months of testimony from 65 witnesses questioned by some 20 lawyers, the inquiry into Thomas Sophonow's wrongful murder conviction is over.

Sophonow spent nearly four years in jail for the 1981 murder of Winnipeg teenager Barbara Stoppel. He was acquitted in 1985 and formally cleared by Winnipeg police last year. Another suspect, currently serving time in a B.C. prison, is under investigation.

• RELATED LINK: Learn more about the Sophonow case

Inquiry commissioner Justice Peter Cory heard how police officers did not thoroughly investigate leads on other suspects, mishandled and misplaced evidence and used tactics described as unscrupulous to force a confession from Sophonow. Witnesses also testified the crown didn't disclose statements to the defence which would have upheld Sophonow's alibi.

• From June 11, 2001 Sophonow deserves millions, inquiry told

One of Sophonow's lawyers, Lyle Harris, has asked the inquiry for up to $10 million in compensation for the pain and suffering Sophonow has endured since the Stoppel murder. "I think it went pretty well. I'm satisfied with the quality of evidence that was brought out. I'm hoping Mr. Sophonow will eventually heal as a result of this."

Harris says his client stayed with his family in Vancouver during the last days of the inquiry because he could no longer handle the stress.

Evan Roitenburg is a lawyer who represented the Association in Defence of the Wrongfully convicted at the inquiry. "I can only hope the commissioner will be able to look at all of this and siphon it into some cogent recommendations that will hopefully prevent this from ever happening again."

Commissioner Cory's report due at the end of September will recommend what, if any, compensation Sophonow should receive.