APTN reporter honoured for work on local murder case
The story of a Medicine Hat woman whose jury conviction for second-degree murder was quashed last year has been noted for a prestigious journalism prize.
Connie Oakes was convicted in late 2013 in the stabbing death of local man Casey Armstrong, along with another woman. The Alberta Court of Appeal overturned both convictions in early 2015 citing “exceedingly frail evidence.” Prosecutors then allowed a deadline to pass without relaunching charges.
The work of Jorge Barrera, a reporter with the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network who covered the Oakes story, appears as honourable mention when the 2017 Hillman award was announced Tuesday.
The Hillman Prize has been awarded in Canada since 2011 for “excellence in journalism for the common good” by the U.S.based Sidney Hillman Foundation.
The foundation cites Barrera’s series “Quest for Innocence” as showcasing “the devastating failure of the justice system when it convicted and imprisoned” Oakes.
“His investigation ... led to a focus on the justice system and eventually to Oakes’ release from prison,” a release states.
Oakes, who is Cree, is believed to be living at the Nekaneet First Nation near Maple Creek.
Winning film to have local showing
The 2017 prize was awarded to “Migrant Dreams,” a documentary produced by TVOntario, a provincial public broadcaster, about the temporary workers in that province’s agriculture and greenhouse industries.
The Medicine Hat Library had previously scheduled a screening of the documentary as part on the Cinema Politico series. It will screen March 27.
The Toronto Star was also honoured for its investigation into the Ontario Workers Compensation system.
The Hillman award will be presented March 30 at a ceremony in Toronto.