Guy Paul Morin shares his wrongful conviction story with Guelph-Humber students

Imagine spending a decade trying to prove you’re innocent of a crime you did not commit. This is what happened to Guy Paul Morin, now exonerated, whose story is one of the most significant cases of wrongful conviction in Canada.

Now, imagine hearing that impactful story from the person who experienced it firsthand.

Morin visited the University of Guelph-Humber (U of GH) during Wrongful Conviction Week (as per U of GH’s chapter of Alpha Phi Sigma) to speak with students from across programs. He shared his lived experience interacting with the justice system, including being wrongfully convicted of first-degree murder.

“It’s so important that we hear stories like this and we get to experience things like this because we can then take these [lessons] on with us in our future careers and realize that we, as professionals in the justice field, do make a huge impact and a huge difference in people's lives,” fourth-year Justice Studies student Nicole Wassef said, who is also the president of U of GH’s chapter of Alpha Phi Sigma.

Morin’s talk, which attracted close to 100 students according to Wassef, focused on his trial and exoneration and provided an emotional glimpse into his experience with the justice system and the effects the ordeal still has on him, including facing lingering stigma. Third year Psychology student Asmaa Baksh, who serves as vice president of activities for the Liberal Studies Society, said hearing from the source humanized the story for her.

“[It’s rare] to get the chance to speak directly with someone who has gone through what Guy Paul has, who has experienced the shortcomings directly of the legal system so prominently,” Baksh said. “Hearing his thoughts regarding everything was very insightful, much more than any lecture could ever be.”

Wassef echoed this sentiment: “This is not a true crime documentary. This is his real life…You can see what it really did to him and what his story means to him now. You really get that emotional connection.”

Having that personification served as a reminder for Wassef that these cases are more than just class assignments; they touch the lives of real people who have been impacted by the system that Justice Studies students aspire to have a career within.

Baksh brought her perspective as a Psychology student to Morin’s talk. She said she was interested in how his experience affected his mental health and how pack mentality shaped public perception of the case. She added, to her, this reinforced the importance of collecting accurate information and approaching cases like this with an open mind.

For Wassef, his talk served as a stark reminder that sometimes the justice system fails, but as a future professional in the field, she can play a role in ensuring miscarriages of justice like this do not occur. 

Furthermore, since the event was a product of three student societies coming together (Alpha Phi Sigma, the Guelph-Humber Pre-Law Society, and the Liberal Studies Society), it underscored the exciting opportunities that emerge when collaboration occurs. It became a space for diverse perspectives to grow, with students across various programs uniting.

“The three societies were able to collaborate for this event and successfully fulfil what the Liberal Studies society strives for, which is to foster a space where all the students from different programs can grow and learn and interact with one another,” Baksh said.

Related: Justice Studies unlocks new era with innovative courses and spaces, refreshed credential