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Manitoba woman found not guilty of murder in province’s first televised trial

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Jaison Empson, videographer for CBC, sets up his camera in the courtroom of the Court of Queens Bench Associate in preparation of Chief Justice Perlmutter pronouncing his decision on the second degree murder charge against Cassandra Knott in Winnipeg, Wednesday, April 16, 2014. Manitoba allowed a camera into its courts for the first time today. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods

WINNIPEG – A Manitoba woman has been found not guilty of killing her husband in the province’s first-ever televised criminal proceeding.

While historic, the live-streamed verdict in the Cassandra Knott case was low-key.

A lone television camera was allowed to record only the judge as he read his verdict and a summary of his 52-page decision.

Knott, Crown and defence lawyers were never shown.

Justice Shane Perlmutter of Court of Queen’s Bench ruled Knott had long suffered abuse at the hands of her husband, and feared for her safety when she stabbed him in the chest in her home on Feb. 18, 2011.

Knott was acquitted of second-degree murder.

Perlmutter read from his judgment for more than 45 minutes, looking up frequently to the camera that was placed off in a corner of the large room.

The judge then ordered the camera turned off.

Knott wept openly and hugged her lawyer.

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The Canadian Press

The Canadian Press is Canada's trusted news source and leader in providing real-time, bilingual multimedia stories across print, broadcast and digital platforms.

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