By Ryan Pilon

Crowe found not-guilty

Dec 10, 2010 | 4:06 PM

Jordan Crowe is a free man.

He is the Prince Albert man who was on trial for second-degree murder for allegedly killing his three-year-old stepson, Dilyn Donald, on Dec. 23, 2007.

After almost 17 hours of deliberation, the jury was finally able to reach a unanimous decision, which was a not guilty verdict.

“They (the jury) did their job very diligently – and from my client’s perspective, he's very relieved at the outcome,” said defence lawyer, Greg Chovin.

“I'm disappointed, but with the amount of time the jury was out, and the fact they came back a couple of times saying they were at an impasse, I'm not surprised,” said Crown prosecutor Jennifer Claxton-Viczko.

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The jury found the Crown wasn't able to prove without a reasonable doubt that Crowe was the one who caused Donald’s death.

During the trial the boy's mother, Jennine Donald, continually changed her story, both in her police statements and on the stand.

At first she told police she was gone for about 20 minutes the day Dilyn died, visiting a friend. Later, she said she was gone for an hour prostituting herself to buy food for her family. But after Chovin showed her pictures taken of her home on that day with her fridge, freezer, and cupboards stocked full of food, she said she wasn't out prostituting, and was gone for a much shorter period of time.

“The pictures spoke for themselves,” said Chovin when asked how he knew she wasn't telling the truth. “I didn't realize anything until it was admitted into evidence.”

“Whenever you have a witness who has inconsistent evidence like that, it's got to have an impact (in the jury's decision),” said Claxton-Viczko.

Claxton-Viczko said an appeal will be unlikely, and that it's up to police if they want to investigate or charge anyone else in relation to Dilyn's death, but that is unlikely as well.

“I would be surprised if they did. A person would be in the same dilemma with the mother, as you were the father, with respect to the issue as to who was there,” said Claxton-Viczko.

As for Crowe, Chovin said this has been a difficult time for him, but he's going to try and get over it as best he can and move on with his life.

rpilon@panow.com
 

For more on the story:

Man on trial for toddler’s death

Lead investigator takes stand in Jordan Crowe trial

Crowe denies hitting child in police tapes

Deceased three-year-old's mother takes stand in murder trial

Deceased son’s mother changes story, grandmother puts holes in it

Dilyn Donald’s brain swollen, bleeding at time of death

Pathologist testifies boy had contusions on his head

Evidence wrapped up in Crowe trial

Jordan Crowe trial hears closing arguments

Jury can't decide Crowe's fate after first day of deliberations

Jury at a standstill in Crowe trial