A man who now lives in St. John’s has been exonerated after the death of a child in Ontario 27 years ago in August of 1996.

Tyler Cunningham, a 17-month-old infant, died as the result of a terrible accident. Bernard Doyle, who was then 23, was dancing with his stepson in his arms when he tripped over his roofing tools, which were on the floor. Tyler’s head struck the edges of the tools and he later died in hospital.

Two pathologists, one of whom was the now-disgraced Dr. Charles Smith, testified that Tyler could not have died in that manner and must have been shaken violently.

Doyle was sentenced to four years for manslaughter, serving the entire sentence.

Innocence Canada took on the case in 2013 and yesterday, the Ontario Court of Appeal agreed with new expert testimony and acquitted Bernard Doyle.

Doyle is relieved but says he will never forget Tyler, saying he was a wonderful boy with lots of promise.