Convicted killer can recieve book royalties

[SebC]

Convicted killer Colin Thatcher's forthcoming book has prompted the Saskatchewan government to consider laws that would deny criminals payment for writing accounts of their crimes.

Mr. Thatcher, the millionaire Saskatchewan MLA convicted of the 1983 murder of his ex-wife, began writing a book dissecting the case against him in 2006, the year he was paroled.


When news broke last week that ECW Press, a Toronto firm, would publish Mr. Thatcher's 110,000-word Final Appeal: Anatomy of a Frame, victims' advocacy groups objected to the possibility of Mr. Thatcher profiting from the crime.


Unlike Manitoba, Alberta, Nova Scotia and Ontario, Saskatchewan does not prevent criminals from selling the tale of their crimes.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servl...l_gam_mostview

To me, even if though the book proclaims his innocence and will focus on events after his conviction, that's still profiting from crime as far as I'm concerned because it's only relevant because of the crime for which he was convicted.

I have nothing against him writing it or getting published, but he should not receive royalties.

[Temporary_User]

I don't know anything about this case, but in general I have no issues with people selling books about their lives.

I don't think anyone is going to become a criminal just so that they can sell their tale at a later date.

[ericschand]

Originally Posted by SebC

I have nothing against him writing it or getting published, but he should not receive royalties.

Where do the royalties go in places where you cannot profit from crimes?

ers

[llama64]

Originally Posted by SebC

I have nothing against him writing it or getting published, but he should not receive royalties.

Why?

If he wants to assert his innocence, it's his absolute right to do that.

Seems perfectly valid to me.

Perhaps no royalties may be earned while in prison, but once punishment is served a person should be free. Laws don't exist to protect good taste, they exist to protect human rights.

[mikey_the_redneck]

The guy served his time, and should be free to earn a living how he sees fit.
The article says the book isn't about the murder itself, but the events afterwards, so to me its no big deal.

[troutman]

Working title - If I Did It

[Phaneuf3]

Either he's guilty or he isn't. He was found guilty therefore in the government's eyes, if he writes a book claiming his innocence with his alibi and what 'actually' happened, it would be a work of fiction and therefore was not related to any crime he committed.

Either its fiction and shouldn't be subject to such laws or its non-fiction and should be subject to the laws which means he was wrongfully imprisoned - take your pick.

[peter12]

Situation like this is why humans invented the free market. If you don't like an ex-murderer writing a book about his murder, don't buy it and make sure your friends don't buy it.

[Locke]

The first thing that came to my mind was:

So what?

He's entitled to receive book royalties while in jail, bug deal, so what? Wheres he going to spend the money? Its not like being rich does you much good in jail.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by Locke

The first thing that came to my mind was:

So what?

He's entitled to receive book royalties while in jail, bug deal, so what? Wheres he going to spend the money? Its not like being rich does you much good in jail.

Desperate families will send their most disposable member to kill someone, and then write a book about it.

[Resolute 14]

Alberta and Manitoba both have laws barring convicted criminals from profiting by selling the story of their crimes. Saskatchewan doesn't. Thatcher isn't doing anything wrong in the jurisdiction he is in. Opponents should be pressing the Saskatchewan government to change the law if they feel like it.

[mykalberta]

No problem, so long as the royalties go directly to the victim. The family should sue him for wrongful death.

They should also sue to keep the name of the victim out of the book. That I dont agree with. He has his right to a fair defence, not to defame his victims while profiteering.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by troutman

Desperate families will send their most disposable member to kill someone, and then write a book about it.

I have no problem with this. Its an enterprising approach to felony.

[CaptainCrunch]

I expect an OJish back lash to this.