A man from New Brunswick, who was wrongly imprisoned for murder for 18 years, has passed away at 77. Robert Mailman, who endured a wrongful murder conviction for over half of his life, succumbed to liver cancer less than two years after being acquitted of the crime. Along with his childhood friend Walter Gillespie, Mailman was convicted in 1984 for the 1983 beating death of George Gilman Leeman in Saint John, where the victim’s body was found burned in Rockwood Park.
Despite having strong alibis, Mailman and Gillespie were sentenced to life in prison without parole for 18 and 21 years, respectively. Both men consistently maintained their innocence. Following a prolonged legal process, including unsuccessful appeals, Mailman’s health deteriorated in November 2023 when he was diagnosed with terminal liver cancer. Given a prognosis of three months to live, Mailman accepted his fate, acknowledging the inevitability of his demise.
In December 2019, with support from Innocence Canada, Mailman and Gillespie sought a federal criminal conviction review. Despite initial rejections, a new trial was eventually ordered by the federal justice minister due to undisclosed significant information. Born in 1948 in Saint John, Mailman, the eldest of 15 siblings, spent his prison years engaged in various activities while maintaining a disciplined exercise routine.
The new trial in January 2024 saw the Crown declining to present evidence, leading to the acquittal of Mailman and Gillespie by Chief Justice Tracey DeWare. Recognizing the “miscarriage of justice,” DeWare apologized for the failings in the prosecution, as outlined by Innocence Canada. Subsequently, a settlement was reached between the two men and the New Brunswick government, with details kept confidential.
Tragically, Gillespie passed away in April 2024 at 80, with undisclosed causes. Despite his declining health and personal losses, Mailman expressed gratitude for the support he received, cherishing moments with his family. While acknowledging the irreparable loss of time and loved ones during his wrongful imprisonment, Mailman’s unwavering spirit and determination remained undiminished until his final days.