David Milgaard, the victim of one of Canada’s most notorious miscarriages of justice, has died after a short illness.

He was 69.

James Lockyer, a Toronto-based lawyer who worked closely on the case and helped found the organization Innocence Canada, confirmed the death after speaking with Milgaard’s sister on Sunday.

Ron Dalton, a close friend who was wrongly convicted in this province, says he was shocked to hear of Milgaard’s death after only speaking with him about a case last week.

Dalton is also co-president of Innocence Canada.

Milgaard was only 16 when he was charged in the murder of Saskatoon nursing aide Gail Miller.

He went on to spend 23 years — one third of his life — in prison on a wrongful conviction.