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Year in Review 2016: The top trials and court cases of the year

  • <p>Three years after her husband Tim Bosma mysteriously vanished, Sharlene Bosma celebrated outside a Hamilton courtroom in June when she heard the guilty verdicts for Dellen Millard and Mark Smich. The pair were found guilty of first-degree murder in the Ontario man’s death and sentenced to 25 years in prison, but both have appealed the decision. Photo from The Canadian Press</p>
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    Top Trials of 2016

    Three years after her husband Tim Bosma mysteriously vanished, Sharlene Bosma celebrated outside a Hamilton courtroom in June when she heard the guilty verdicts for Dellen Millard and Mark Smich. The pair were found guilty of first-degree murder in the Ontario man’s death and sentenced to 25 years in prison, but both have appealed the decision. Photo from The Canadian Press

  • <p>Gregory Elliott (centre) celebrated with his sons and brother outside a Toronto courthouse in January after he was acquitted on harassment charges. Dubbed the “Twitter Trial,” the accusations against Elliott stemmed from his behaviour on the social media platform toward three complainants, all women. The case highlighted issues around free speech on the Internet and how some users are treated online. Photo from The Canadian Press</p>
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    Top Trials: Gregory Elliott

    Gregory Elliott (centre) celebrated with his sons and brother outside a Toronto courthouse in January after he was acquitted on harassment charges. Dubbed the “Twitter Trial,” the accusations against Elliott stemmed from his behaviour on the social media platform toward three complainants, all women. The case highlighted issues around free speech on the Internet and how some users are treated online. Photo from The Canadian Press

  • <p>A national debate around gender-based violence kicked off from the moment the Toronto Star broke the accusations that former CBC Radio host Jian Ghomeshi assaulted women he dated. That conversation came to a fever pitch in March when Ghomeshi was acquitted on all charges of sexual assault and choking, but apologized to one complainant for his sexualized and predatory workplace behaviour. Photo from Getty Images</p>
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    Top Trials of 2016: Ghomeshi

    A national debate around gender-based violence kicked off from the moment the Toronto Star broke the accusations that former CBC Radio host Jian Ghomeshi assaulted women he dated. That conversation came to a fever pitch in March when Ghomeshi was acquitted on all charges of sexual assault and choking, but apologized to one complainant for his sexualized and predatory workplace behaviour. Photo from Getty Images

  • <p>Rohinie Bisesar was arrested at the end of 2015 for allegedly stabbing a woman in a random attack in Toronto’s underground PATH system. Though the crime itself was shocking, that Bisesar, a woman with a reputation as a successful financial worker stood accused in it surprised many. The case grew stranger with each court appearance. Bisesar was found fit to stand trial but often displayed odd behaviour in court, including dismissing her high-profile defense lawyer. The case has yet to go to trial. Photo from The Canadian Press</p>
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    Top Trials of 2016

    Rohinie Bisesar was arrested at the end of 2015 for allegedly stabbing a woman in a random attack in Toronto’s underground PATH system. Though the crime itself was shocking, that Bisesar, a woman with a reputation as a successful financial worker stood accused in it surprised many. The case grew stranger with each court appearance. Bisesar was found fit to stand trial but often displayed odd behaviour in court, including dismissing her high-profile defense lawyer. The case has yet to go to trial. Photo from The Canadian Press

  • <p>The McCann family have been living a nightmare since Lyle, 78, and his wife Marie, 77, went missing in 2010. In a rare decision, the verdict was broadcast live, allowing the country to watch Travis Vader be found guilty of second-degree murder in the disappearance of the Alberta couple. But the saga continued after the September verdict, when the conviction was downgraded to manslaughter due what the judge later admitted was an error, thanks in part to a so-called “zombie law” still on the books. The sentence has yet to be handed down. Photo from The Canadian Press</p>
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    Top Trials of 2016

    The McCann family have been living a nightmare since Lyle, 78, and his wife Marie, 77, went missing in 2010. In a rare decision, the verdict was broadcast live, allowing the country to watch Travis Vader be found guilty of second-degree murder in the disappearance of the Alberta couple. But the saga continued after the September verdict, when the conviction was downgraded to manslaughter due what the judge later admitted was an error, thanks in part to a so-called “zombie law” still on the books. The sentence has yet to be handed down. Photo from The Canadian Press

  • <p>Three years after young New Brunswick brothers Connor and Noah Barthe were killed by a python while they slept, Jean-Claude Savoie was found not guilty of criminal negligence in their deaths. “This is not a case where there are winners,” Savoie’s lawyer said after the verdict. Photo from The Canadian Press</p>
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    Top Trials of 2016

    Three years after young New Brunswick brothers Connor and Noah Barthe were killed by a python while they slept, Jean-Claude Savoie was found not guilty of criminal negligence in their deaths. “This is not a case where there are winners,” Savoie’s lawyer said after the verdict. Photo from The Canadian Press

  • <p>The senate scandal closed its last chapter in April when Sen. Mike Duffy was acquitted of all charges. By July charges against Sen. Patrick Brazeau and former senator Mac Harb were dropped and the RCMP ended its investigation into Sen. Pamela Wallin without laying charges. Photo from The Canadian Press</p>
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    Top Trials of 2016

    The senate scandal closed its last chapter in April when Sen. Mike Duffy was acquitted of all charges. By July charges against Sen. Patrick Brazeau and former senator Mac Harb were dropped and the RCMP ended its investigation into Sen. Pamela Wallin without laying charges. Photo from The Canadian Press

  • <p>A judicial watchdog recommended in November that federal court judge Robin Camp be removed from the bench after a controversial decision in a 2014 sexual assault case. Before finding Alexander Scott Wagar not guilty, Camp asked the complainant during the trial why she hadn’t kept her knees together. The same month the panel called for his dismissal, a retrial began in the case. Photo from The Canadian Press</p>
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    Top Trials of 2016

    A judicial watchdog recommended in November that federal court judge Robin Camp be removed from the bench after a controversial decision in a 2014 sexual assault case. Before finding Alexander Scott Wagar not guilty, Camp asked the complainant during the trial why she hadn’t kept her knees together. The same month the panel called for his dismissal, a retrial began in the case. Photo from The Canadian Press

  • <p>After their arrest on Canada Day three years ago, B.C. couple John Nuttall and Amanda Korody had terrorism convictions overturned this summer. The court found the RCMP had entrapped the couple in a manufactured crime. Photo from The Canadian Press</p>
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    Top Trials of 2016

    After their arrest on Canada Day three years ago, B.C. couple John Nuttall and Amanda Korody had terrorism convictions overturned this summer. The court found the RCMP had entrapped the couple in a manufactured crime. Photo from The Canadian Press

  • <p>In May, Matthew de Grood was found not criminally responsible in the deaths of five young people after he went on a stabbing rampage at a Calgary house party in 2014. Photo from The Canadian Press</p>
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    Matthew de Grood

    In May, Matthew de Grood was found not criminally responsible in the deaths of five young people after he went on a stabbing rampage at a Calgary house party in 2014. Photo from The Canadian Press

<p>Three years after her husband Tim Bosma mysteriously vanished, Sharlene Bosma celebrated outside a Hamilton courtroom in June when she heard the guilty verdicts for Dellen Millard and Mark Smich. The pair were found guilty of first-degree murder in the Ontario man’s death and sentenced to 25 years in prison, but both have appealed the decision. Photo from The Canadian Press</p>
<p>Gregory Elliott (centre) celebrated with his sons and brother outside a Toronto courthouse in January after he was acquitted on harassment charges. Dubbed the “Twitter Trial,” the accusations against Elliott stemmed from his behaviour on the social media platform toward three complainants, all women. The case highlighted issues around free speech on the Internet and how some users are treated online. Photo from The Canadian Press</p>
<p>A national debate around gender-based violence kicked off from the moment the Toronto Star broke the accusations that former CBC Radio host Jian Ghomeshi assaulted women he dated. That conversation came to a fever pitch in March when Ghomeshi was acquitted on all charges of sexual assault and choking, but apologized to one complainant for his sexualized and predatory workplace behaviour. Photo from Getty Images</p>
<p>Rohinie Bisesar was arrested at the end of 2015 for allegedly stabbing a woman in a random attack in Toronto’s underground PATH system. Though the crime itself was shocking, that Bisesar, a woman with a reputation as a successful financial worker stood accused in it surprised many. The case grew stranger with each court appearance. Bisesar was found fit to stand trial but often displayed odd behaviour in court, including dismissing her high-profile defense lawyer. The case has yet to go to trial. Photo from The Canadian Press</p>
<p>The McCann family have been living a nightmare since Lyle, 78, and his wife Marie, 77, went missing in 2010. In a rare decision, the verdict was broadcast live, allowing the country to watch Travis Vader be found guilty of second-degree murder in the disappearance of the Alberta couple. But the saga continued after the September verdict, when the conviction was downgraded to manslaughter due what the judge later admitted was an error, thanks in part to a so-called “zombie law” still on the books. The sentence has yet to be handed down. Photo from The Canadian Press</p>
<p>Three years after young New Brunswick brothers Connor and Noah Barthe were killed by a python while they slept, Jean-Claude Savoie was found not guilty of criminal negligence in their deaths. “This is not a case where there are winners,” Savoie’s lawyer said after the verdict. Photo from The Canadian Press</p>
<p>The senate scandal closed its last chapter in April when Sen. Mike Duffy was acquitted of all charges. By July charges against Sen. Patrick Brazeau and former senator Mac Harb were dropped and the RCMP ended its investigation into Sen. Pamela Wallin without laying charges. Photo from The Canadian Press</p>
<p>A judicial watchdog recommended in November that federal court judge Robin Camp be removed from the bench after a controversial decision in a 2014 sexual assault case. Before finding Alexander Scott Wagar not guilty, Camp asked the complainant during the trial why she hadn’t kept her knees together. The same month the panel called for his dismissal, a retrial began in the case. Photo from The Canadian Press</p>
<p>After their arrest on Canada Day three years ago, B.C. couple John Nuttall and Amanda Korody had terrorism convictions overturned this summer. The court found the RCMP had entrapped the couple in a manufactured crime. Photo from The Canadian Press</p>
<p>In May, Matthew de Grood was found not criminally responsible in the deaths of five young people after he went on a stabbing rampage at a Calgary house party in 2014. Photo from The Canadian Press</p>
Sarah-Joyce Battersby

The trials and tribulations heard in Canada’s court rooms are some of the most compelling stories anywhere in the country. From the long-awaited trial in the death of two New Brunswick brothers killed by a python while they slept, to the re-trying of a Calgary sex assault after the judge told the complainant to “keep her knees together.” Here are some of the cases that gripped our attention from gavel to gavel in 2016.