Ottawa

The Gary Freeman story

More on the man Thomas Mulcair met last weekend

The 2005 story from the Toronto Star that I referenced in this post can be downloaded from Gary Freeman’s website here. There is also this Star story from 2010 that reviews the case.

The Chicago Tribune covered Mr. Freeman’s plea deal in this story.

In a novel deal, a longtime fugitive wanted for shooting a Chicago police officer in 1969 pleaded guilty Friday to aggravated battery, was given just 30 days in jail and paid $250,000 to aid families of severely injured officers. The former officer, Terrence Knox, led the crusade to hunt down Joseph Pannell, yet it was he and his family who came up with the idea of the large payment.

Mr. Freeman was released from prison in March 2008 and two years later he was reported to have been denied entry into Canada. In January 2010, he apparently requested permission to attend the funeral of his father-in-law. Last December, he was reportedly seeking a temporary residence permit.

In 2010, Terrence Knox argued that Mr. Freeman shouldn’t be allowed to return to Canada. He also suggested that Mr. Freeman might be charged with murder if Mr. Knox’s death could be tied to the shooting in 1969. Mr. Knox passed away in May 2011.

See previously: The case of Gary Freeman and Thomas Mulcair and Gary Freeman

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