Final Appeal : Anatomy of a Frame

The Canadian politician who was convicted of murder tells his story — and argues for his innocence

In 1984, Colin Thatcher was convicted of killing his ex-wife and sentenced to life in prison. The murder and trial provoked a national media frenzy, casting the once-prominent Saskatchewan politician as the villain.

After serving twenty-two years, Thatcher was released and finally able to offer his own account of what happened from the time of the murder up until he left prison. Though firmly proclaiming his innocence from the start, he is now able to go behind the bureaucratic red tape and provide full disclosure, including evidence not seen at the trial, legal documents, and personal correspondence, ultimately questioning the public’s faith in local law enforcement, mainstream media, and justice.

Colin Thatcher served in the Saskatchewan legislature from 1975 to 1984. He is the son of former Saskatchewan premier Ross Thatcher, who served as premier from 1964 to 1971. Colin Thatcher was convicted of murdering his wife and served 22 years of a 25-year prison sentence. He was paroled in 2006 and lives in Saskatchewan.