MONTREAL — Federal Justice Minister Sean Fraser has ordered a new trial for Daniel Jolivet, a Quebec man convicted in 1994 of four murders, saying new information suggests a miscarriage of justice may have occurred.
Minister cites fresh information not before the courts
Fraser said his decision, announced Friday, followed consideration of evidence that was not presented at the original trial or at appeal. He stressed that his order does not resolve questions of guilt or innocence, which will now be decided by the courts.
"As Minister of Justice, I have the authority under the Criminal Code to order a new trial or appeal when new evidence shows a miscarriage of justice likely occurred," Fraser said in a statement.
Jolivet, now 69, was convicted in 1994 on two counts of first-degree murder and two counts of second-degree murder for the November 1992 shootings that left two men and two women dead. He has long maintained his innocence. In December 2025 he was released on bail after spending 33 years in custody.
Prosecutors to re-examine evidence; presumption of innocence restored
The provincial prosecution service, the Directorate of Criminal and Penal Prosecutions (DPCP), said it will analyse the material in collaboration with police to determine whether continuing proceedings is in the public interest and consistent with existing guidelines.
"As a result of the order for a new trial, both Mr. Jolivet and the DPCP are restored to the status that prevailed prior to the 1994 verdict. It should be noted that Mr. Jolivet once again benefits from the presumption of innocence with regard to the alleged offenses," DPCP spokesperson Lucas Bastien said.
Jolivet’s return to a status of presumed innocence follows an earlier federal determination, in October, that there were reasonable grounds to suspect a miscarriage of justice and that the Criminal Conviction Review Panel should investigate. That process enabled his application for release on bail late last year.
What the order means and next steps
By ordering a new trial, the minister has effectively placed the case back to the pre-conviction procedural position: the Crown may choose to prosecute again, or it may decide not to proceed. The DPCP’s review, in cooperation with law enforcement, will focus on whether the evidence supports a retrial and whether proceeding meets the public-interest threshold.
- Convictions: 2 counts first-degree, 2 counts second-degree murder (1994)
- Incident: Four shootings, November 1992
- Time served: 33 years; released on bail December 2025
- Current status: New trial ordered by federal justice minister
As prosecutorial review proceeds, any decision to refile charges would return the matter to Quebec’s courts, where evidentiary challenges and procedural motions could follow. If charges are not refiled, the matter would effectively end without a retrial, though public and legal scrutiny of how the original conviction occurred is likely to continue.
Local implications
The development will reverberate in communities affected by the 1992 killings and among advocates who monitor wrongful convictions. It also underscores the federal minister’s narrow but significant role in correcting potential miscarriages of justice through the Criminal Code power to order retrials or appeals when new evidence emerges.
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1992 | Shootings that killed four people (November) |
| 1994 | Conviction on two first-degree and two second-degree murder counts |
| 2025 | Released on bail after 33 years (December) |
| 2026 | Federal justice minister orders new trial (July) |
The defence — represented by Nicholas St-Jacques of Project Innocence Quebec — has argued for Jolivet’s innocence. The DPCP has committed to a methodical review with police to assess next steps under the law and current prosecutorial guidelines.
As the review unfolds, courts will eventually determine whether the new information warrants reopening the case and whether a full retrial is required to address lingering questions about the original convictions.
