"THE COMMUNTIY COULD BE EXCUSED FOR REELING IN HORROR WHEN THEY READ THE STORY ON JUNE, 29, 1993, IN THE LOCAL PAPER - THE SAULT STAR - REPLETE WITH A PHOTOGRAPH OF WILLIAM MULLINS-JOHNSON UNDER THE GLARING HEADLINE, "GIRL 4, ASPHYXIATED; ACCUSED KEPT IN JAIL"
Bill Mullins-Johnson's First nations community of Batchewana in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario is understandably confused.
For more than twelve years they were conditioned to believe that 4-year-old Valin Johnson had been sodomized and strangled to death - and they took a collective sigh of relief when Mullins-Johnson was convicted of the crime and sent to prison for life to endure a punishment which he truly deserved.
Now the people of Batchewana have learned that the man they reviled was innocent of all those horrible crimes - and that Valin had neither been sodomized or strangled as the police and the experts had so quickly said in their rush to judgment - but had died a tragic but natural death.
Batchewana is a relatively small community where people tend to know each other and news spreads rapidly.
The Web-page for the Waubetek Business Development Corporation indicates that, "the total population of Batchewana is 2278 and it has a land base of 2241.4 hectares."
The community could be excused for reeling in horror when they read the story on June 29, 1993, in the local paper - the Sault Star - replete with a photograph of Mullins-Johnson under the glaring headline "Girl. 4, asphyxiated; accused kept in jail."
Mullins-Johnson testified at the recent fresh evidence hearing that led to his acquittal by the Ontario Court of Appeal that even he was convinced at the time that Valin had been murdered - but he knew that he was not the killer.
They would later read in the report on Mullins-Johnson's conviction and sentencing on Sept. 22, 1994, that "The jury of six men and six women were told during the 2 1/2 week trial that the child had been the victim of chronic sexual abuse."
"Dr. Patricia Zehr testified that the child showed evidence of getting sodomized over a period of time," the story by reporter Karl Sepkowski continued. "Mullins-Johnson appeared shaken when the verdict was announced."
(The story was considered so newsworthy that it was placed next to an Associated Press- Canadian Press report on Iraq vowing for revenge after eight people were killed by stray missiles.)
The community has, of course, learned that Dr. Charles Smith, Dr. Zehr, and Dr. Robert Rasaiah, the local pathologist got it terribly wrong, when they concluded that Valin had not only been strand led and sodomized, rocked the community and tore a family apart.
They also learned that the experts had also erred when they concluded that Valin had also been a victim of chronic sexual abuse - which in the eyes of the community would have suggested that Valin's bereaved parents were also criminals who had been sexually assaulting their daughter.
That is something else this bewildered community will have to deal with - in addition to the burden of knowing that the man they have shunned as a pariah was himself a victim - a victim of a criminal justice system they were supposed to trust.
Chief Dean Sayers recognizes the challenge facing his community - especially in view of Mullins-Johnson's evidence in the Court of Appeal that he wants to return to the Sault where some people still believe that he is guilty.
Sayers and his council have issued a press release announcing that they are hosting a "community forum" at the Batchewana Learning Centre on Friday, November 2, 2007, at 2:00 p.m. "where an opportunity will be presented to educate the community in regard to the most recent William Mullins-Johnson court case."
"After 12 years of imprisonment, Mr. Mullins-Johnson has been released from his wrongful incarceration.Batchewana First Nation is elated to provide this forum as an opportunity to welcome Mr. Mullins-Johnson back home," the press release continues.
"Legal counsel will be on hand to share with us their insight in regard to the failure of the overall system, and how we, as a collective, have been able to triumph over this travesty of justice."
Chief Sayers told "the Charles Smith Blog" that the Batchewana community, "hasn't really had an opportunity to find out what has happened.
"Not all of the people watch T.V. or read the newspapers," he explained. "All they know is that Mr. Mullins-Johnson went away for a very long time."
"There has been a breach of trust by the criminal justice system - like other breaches of trust we have had to endure - and there has to be some understanding and healing," Sayers added.
"It's hard because we had to pick up the pieces."
"Now we have the opportunity to start fresh."
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William-Mullins Johnson addresses the community forum: http://www.sootoday.com/content/news/full_story.asp?StoryNumber=28268
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