Saskatchewan seeks Thatcher's book money
Last Updated: Wednesday, September 9, 2009 | 9:41 PM CT
CBC News
Colin Thatcher, seen here in a recent interview with CBC News, says any proceeds from his book will go to his three children. (CBC)Justice officials in Saskatchewan are sending a letter to Colin Thatcher asking him to voluntarily hand over any money he receives for a recently published book based on the murder of his ex-wife.
Thatcher, a former provincial cabinet minister and son of a Saskatchewan premier, was convicted in 1984 of killing JoAnn Wilson. Her body was found in the garage of her Regina home on Jan. 21, 1983. She had been beaten and shot.
Thatcher has always denied he committed the crime. He was granted full parole in 2006. His book, Final Appeal: Anatomy of a Frame, offers readers his views on the case.
Officials have read Thatcher's book and determined it does fall within the purview of a new law — the Profits of Criminal Notoriety Act — aimed at preventing criminals from making money off their cases, Justice Minister Don Morgan told reporters on Wednesday.
Saskatchewan's Minister of Justice Don Morgan said his government is asking Colin Thatcher to relinquish any proceeds from the sale of his recently published book. (CBC)Morgan said justice officials will ask Thatcher to account for any money he receives for the book and to pay it to the government.
"The process that's outlined under the act would be that they [justice officials] would write a letter to the author, the publisher, printer, etc., and ask for documents, details, etc. And when they receive that information they would expect compliance with the act to receive funds on it," Morgan told reporters. "If co-operation isn't forthcoming then they would make application to the Court of Queen's Bench."
Thatcher and his publisher have said they do not believe the law applies to this book. In a recent interview with CBC News, Thatcher said any money he makes will go to his three children.
