There is a new call for an investigation into the case of a Halifax man who spent 16 years in jail for a crime he did not commit.

Nova Scotia’s police oversight body (SIRT) is looking for an independent body to probe the wrongful conviction of Glen Assoun in 1999 for the murder of his ex-girlfriend. It was later called a “miscarriage of justice” when he was set free.

Police in B.C. were originally tasked to look into it, but they were not able to due to a heavy workload.

“On September 8, 2020, then Minister of Justice and Attorney General Mark Furey asked the SiRT to investigate whether there was criminal misconduct by the police during the period before the appeal of Glen Assoun’s conviction. In March 2021, the SiRT engaged the Independent Investigations Office of British Columbia (IIOBC) to investigate allegations that the RCMP in Nova Scotia inappropriately destroyed evidence which was used in the 1999 wrongful murder conviction of Glen Assoun. The investigation was also to examine whether any member of the Halifax Regional Police committed any offence related to this conviction.”

The investigation would examine whether the Halifax Regional Police improperly destroyed evidence or committed any crime related to his conviction.

Assoun died earlier this year at 67, and was awarded millions in compensation for his wrongful conviction.