משפט · Lost murder evidenceMissing Evidence Ends Byron Carr Murder Prosecution After Police Knew for Yearsנכתב 14 באוקטובר 2026 בשעה 13:50 UTCצפייהתמליל0:07Police lost the knife and towel at the heart of Byron Carr's murder prosecution.0:11The Crown has withdrawn every charge against Todd Joseph Irving and says the case0:15won't return to court.0:16Carr's family has lost the prospect of a trial in this prosecution.0:20How did police bring the case to court after knowing crucial evidence was missing?0:23Irving walked out free of those charges after a two-minute hearing.0:27The Crown withdrew the prosecution in Prince Edward Island Supreme Court on October0:3113, 2026.0:32He had faced first-degree murder and interfering with human remains charges.0:36The accused also goes by Todd Joseph Gillant.0:40Police used Gillant in their statement about the withdrawal.0:43Both names identify the same man.0:45Lead Crown lawyer Christopher White handled the explanation for ending the0:49prosecution.0:50The Crown's assessment was that it no longer had a reasonable likelihood of0:53conviction.0:54Carr was found strangled and stabbed at his home on Lapthorne Avenue in0:58Charlottetown.0:59He taught at Montague Regional High School.1:02His killing left his family and the wider community waiting decades for a1:05prosecution.1:06The towel had been used to strangle Carr.1:09The knife was found at the scene and linked to the stabbing.1:12Police couldn't locate either exhibit when the prosecution needed them.1:15Police acknowledged that they already knew both objects were missing when they1:18reopened the cold case in 2007.1:21The losses were known long before Irving's arrest.1:23Kara was killed in November 1988.1:26Police reopened the case in 2007 knowing the exhibits were missing.1:31Forensic DNA supported Irving's arrest and charges in 2024.1:35The Crown withdrew every charge on October 13, 2026.1:39Police relied on forensic DNA to move the investigation forward.1:43They haven't explained what DNA was tested or how strongly it connected Irving to1:47the alleged offenses.1:48The prosecution ended over missing exhibits and wider evidence handling problems.1:53Irving leaves this case without a conviction or a trial verdict.1:56A former police chief had expressed confidence that Irving was the right person.2:00That remains the former chief's belief.2:02A review found significant gaps in how police handled other evidence, including2:06identifying, tracking, and recording the remaining exhibits.2:09The missing knife and towel were central to the Crown's decision, but wider problems2:13also helped make the prosecution untenable.2:15Police knew the objects were missing in 2007.2:18That tells us when they were already aware of the loss.2:21It doesn't tell us when the objects disappeared.2:23The family wants police to explain how those exhibits went missing and how the2:27investigation moved toward charges despite their absence.2:30Kare's family and members of Prince Edward Island's LGBT plus community had welcomed2:35the arrest.2:36His brother John now says the family is disappointed and still hurt.2:40He said, truth does not always equal justice.2:43John also said, nothing he could be sentenced to would ever bring Byron back.2:47His words describe the family's loss and what a sentence could never restore.2:52The Crown says this prosecution won't return to court.2:55The institution responsible for preserving its evidence still faces demands for an2:59explanation.3:00Interim police chief Darren MacDougall acknowledged the seriousness of the concerns3:04identified.3:05He also called proper evidence collection.3:08Documentation and preservation fundamental responsibilities.3:11Evidence that police could no longer locate or adequately account for helped end3:15this murder prosecution.3:16Police haven't ruled out an independent or third-party review of their evidence3:20handling.3:21They haven't confirmed that they've commissioned one.3:23The review that uncovered evidence gaps before the withdrawal leaves the question of3:27separate independent scrutiny unresolved.3:29DNA helped police bring charges despite the known losses.3:32Police still haven't explained how they addressed those losses and the wider3:35record-keeping gaps before laying charges.3:37Nobody has publicly identified who was responsible for the missing evidence.קריאת הכתבהציר הזמן של הסיפורHeyDexהסרטון הקצר ↗מי דיווח על מהנקודות שדיווח עליהן יותר מכלי תקשורת אחדCharges withdrawn against the accusedשני כלי תקשורתTowel and knife missing from the caseשני כלי תקשורתCrown’s stated reason for withdrawing chargesשני כלי תקשורתCircumstances of Carr’s killingשני כלי תקשורתAccused was arrested and charged in 2024שני כלי תקשורתנקודות שדיווח עליהן רק כלי תקשורת אחד19דווח רק על ידי CBC NewsWhether the case could return to court14 באוק׳, 2:08 UTCCharlottetown police have lost key evidence from the 1988 investigation into Byron Carr’s murder.15 באוק׳, 12:53 UTCReview found gaps in evidence handling14 באוק׳, 11:34 UTCTowel used to strangle Carr was lost16 באוק׳, 12:00 UTCPolice chief’s support for an independent investigation15 באוק׳, 12:53 UTCKnife left at the scene was lost16 באוק׳, 12:00 UTCPolice should have disclosed missing evidence earlier16 באוק׳, 12:00 UTCPolice knew items were missing when case reopened14 באוק׳, 2:08 UTCCommunity member’s call to examine prejudice and mishandling15 באוק׳, 12:53 UTCProvince’s talks with police about a review15 באוק׳, 12:53 UTCGay community members call for answers15 באוק׳, 12:53 UTCPiers Alliance’s account of systemic community failure15 באוק׳, 12:53 UTCPolice chief calls for scrutiny of responsibility15 באוק׳, 12:53 UTCIrving’s DNA was not found on the towel16 באוק׳, 12:00 UTCIrving’s DNA was not found on the knife16 באוק׳, 12:00 UTCJustice Department considers a review16 באוק׳, 12:00 UTCPolice planned to build case using DNA evidence14 באוק׳, 2:08 UTCCharges included murder and interfering with remains14 באוק׳, 2:08 UTCדווח רק על ידי CTV NewsPolice arrested Galant in 2024 based on DNA evidence18 באוק׳, 7:09 UTCכל שורה היא הטענה כפי שתיעדנו אותה מהדיווח של אותו כלי תקשורת. הושווה נכון ל-18 באוקטובר 2026 בשעה 08:01 UTC.
