David Milgaard

Cadrain also stated that Milgaard threatened to kill the two other people travelling with them, Ron Wilson and Nichol John because they knew too much. When the investigation was just beginning Milgaard, Wilson and John were giving the same story, even when being questioned separately. At first Wilson told police that Milgaard had not been away from the group, John supported this during her own interview. After extensive interrogation by the police, both Wilson and John began to change their stories going along with the questions from the police. Nichol John, after being placed in a room with Cadrain to discuss, supported his story, and gave more details. She also stated she had seen Milgaard stab Gail Miller. Once having all this information and an eyewitness, Milgaard was charged with the murder. The trial began in January 1970 and lasted two weeks. The most damaging testimony came from his friends, Cadrain, Wilson and John. When it came time for John to testify, instead of repeating her account of seeing Milgaard stab Miller, she told the court she couldn't remember that morning. John was treated as a hostile witness, allowing the Crown to cross-examine her about the statements she previously made to the police. Damage was also done to Milgaard's defence when two young men testified against him. Craig Melnyk, 17 and George Lapchuk, 18, both testified that Milgaard had confessed to killing Miller while watching a newscast regarding her murder. They also testified he demonstrated the murder. The judge warned the jury to treat many of the Crown's witness's testimony with skepticism. Exactly one year after Miller had been murdered; the jury came back with a guilty verdict. Milgaard was sentenced to life.
             Shortly after the conviction, the Milgaard family appealed to the Saskatchewan Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court of Canada. However both courts dismissed the case. Since then David's mother, Ms.