Ottawa's support carries weight for Canadian on death row

Ashley Wiebe
6/5/2010

The lawyer for the only Canadian on death row in the U-S says Ottawa's support will carry a lot of weight if his client has to ask for clemency.

Greg Jackson says Canada's opinion will matter if Ronald Smith has to plead his case, which could happen as early as next year.

Canadian Consul General Dale Eisler told Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer earlier this week that if the case comes to him, he should spare Smith the death penalty.

Ottawa used to routinely lobby for clemency in such cases, but the Conservatives brought in a policy that Canada would not get involved if there was a conviction in a democratic country that honours the rule of law.

Last year, a Federal Court justice ruled that Ottawa couldn't arbitrarily end its long-standing approach and ordered the government to try to win clemency for Smith.

Smith, who's originally from Red Deer was convicted in 1983 of murdering two cousins, Harvey Madman Jr. and Thomas Running Rabbit, while he was high on drugs and alcohol.

Smith refused a plea deal that would have seen him spend his life in prison and asked to be sentenced to death.

He later had a change of heart and has been on a legal roller coaster for the last 25 years.

He's been sentenced to death four times and had the order overturned on three occasions.

(aw/The Canadian Press)

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