Federal Justice Minister Sean Fraser has directed that the 1994 murder convictions of Odelia and Neressa Quewezance be returned to the courts for a fresh appeal, saying an in‑depth review found the original verdicts were likely a miscarriage of justice. The sisters, who have protested their innocence for nearly three decades, will now have their case reconsidered by the Saskatchewan Court of Appeal after new information emerged that was not presented at their trial or earlier appeal.
Background of the Conviction
Odelia and Neressa Quewezance were arrested in February 1993 after the stabbing death of 70‑year‑old Joseph Dolff, a janitor at the residential school they attended on Keeseekoose First Nation in Saskatchewan. The Crown alleged that the sisters, then aged 21 and 18, participated in a violent assault on Dolff after he discovered money missing from his bedroom. Their 15‑year‑old male cousin, whose name remains protected because he was a youth, pleaded guilty to second‑degree murder and testified that he alone caused Dolff’s death by tying a phone cord around his neck, throwing a television on him and stabbing him, while the sisters only took part in the initial struggle.
The sisters pleaded not guilty, but a jury found them guilty and they were sentenced to life imprisonment with no chance of parole for ten years – the minimum parole eligibility period for a murder conviction. They have spent almost three decades behind bars, maintaining throughout that they did not commit the killing.
New Evidence and Ministerial Review
In June 2022 a ministerial review of the sisters’ convictions was granted after lawyer James Lockyer, representing them through Innocence Canada, submitted a final application for their release. Minister Fraser’s department said the review uncovered material that had not been disclosed to the defence during the original trial or the 1995 appeal that was dismissed. Fraser noted in his statement that the justice system must retain public confidence, and that in rare cases this means sending cases back to the courts so fresh evidence can be weighed.
Lockyer told The Globe and Mail that the newly supplied information strengthened the basis for challenging the convictions. “We already had a foundation for questioning the verdict, but the extra material provided by the Saskatchewan Attorney‑General’s Office has made our application considerably stronger,” he said.
Legal Response and Sisters’ Statements
Odelia Quewezance released a statement through Innocence Canada on the day of the minister’s announcement: “Neressa was 18 when she was arrested and is now 52. I was 21 and am now 55. But we have never stopped fighting. Today’s announcement by the Minister is encouraging and now we will continue the fight in the Saskatchewan Court of Appeal. Thank you to all those who have kept the faith in us.”
Innocence Canada highlighted that the sisters were held in the Kamsack RCMP detachment for five days despite a judge’s order that they be transferred to a detention centre away from the police station. The organisation argued that, as residential school survivors, the women were especially vulnerable to pressure during custodial questioning, and that any incriminating statements were never recorded.
Lockyer indicated he will seek bail for the sisters pending the appeal hearing, a move he plans to file within the coming weeks. He reiterated that the case exemplifies broader inequities faced by Indigenous women within the justice and correctional systems, from policing to incarceration and parole.
Why it Matters
The minister’s decision to reopen the Quewezance case signals a renewed willingness to confront potential miscarriages of justice, particularly those involving Indigenous peoples who have historically faced systemic bias. If the appeal succeeds, it could set a precedent for how historic convictions are reviewed when fresh evidence emerges, reinforcing public trust in the fairness of Canada’s legal system while highlighting the urgent need for reforms that protect vulnerable suspects during police custody.
