At twenty-four, Guy Paul Morin was considered a bit strange. He still lived at home, drove his parents' car, kept bees in the backyard, and grew flowers to encourage the hives. He played the saxophone and clarinet in three bands and loved the swing music of the 1940s.
In the small Ontario town where he lived, this meant Guy Paul stood out. So when the nine-year-old girl next door went missing, the police were convinced that Morin was responsible for the little girl's murder. Over the course of eight years, police manipulated witnesses and tampered with evidence to target and convict an innocent man. It took ten years and the just-developed science of DNA testing to finally clear his name.
This book tells his story, showing how the justice system not only failed to help an innocent young man, but conspired to convict him. It also shows how a determined group of people dug up the evidence and forced the judicial system to give him the justice he deserved.
[Fry Reading Level - 5.0
"The tabloid-style, easy-to-read format of the Real Justice series targets reluctant readers and presents the basic facts of the Guy Paul Morin case. Faryon manages to describe the obvious mistakes made by investigators matter-of-factly and lets the outcome speak volumes" Recommended.
- Darleen Golke CM: Canadian Review of Materials
"Teens interested in CSI can turn a critical eye to badly executed procedures and biased criminal investigation"
- School Library Journal
"Guilty of Being Weird is essential reading for anyone interested in criminal justice and forensics"
- VOYA
"Excellent book. Astounding. Baffling. Extremely quick and interesting read. Pick it up, you'll be done in no time."
- Sherry Griffin, Hudson City School District
"Told in a straightforward manner with a simple text, this will be easily accessible to most teen readers and of special interest to true-crime enthusiasts... An unusual topic skillfully handled."
- Randall Enos Booklist (U.S.)
"a very readable introduction to Jessop's disappearance and Morin's trails"
- Jaclyn McLean Resource Links
CYNTHIA J. FARYON has worked as a legal assistant and teen counsellor. She began her writing career in 1999 and is now the author of eleven books, including Real Justice: Sentenced to Life at Seventeen - The story of David Milgaard. She lives in Richer, Manitoba.
Customer Reviews:
Reviewed by: A must read for the lesson con on 23rd August 2012 8:12AM
. . . The story of Guy Paul Morin reads like a ‘how not to’ textbook on bungling, sloppiness, incompetence, prejudice, police and prosecutorial misconduct, and misrepresentation of forensic evidence by so-called “experts.” And yet, Ms Faryon has managed to remain objective throughout, and to put a human face on both the accusers and accused. . .
Highly recommended. Five bees.
Publication Details:
Binding: Paperback, 144 pages Publication Date: 12th September 2012 ISBN: 9781459400924 Format: 8.5in x 5.5in
Binding: Hardback, 144 pages Publication Date: 12th September 2012 ISBN: 9781459400931 Format: 8.5in x 5.5in
Binding: Electronic book text, 144 pages Publication Date: 12th September 2012 ISBN: 9781459400948 Format: EPUB
