A man was pardoned in Australia for a murder he did not commit. Good right? Too bad he was executed 86 years ago.

A man hanged in 1922 for the murder and rape of a young girl in the southern Australian city of Melbourne was posthumously pardoned for the crime on Tuesday after new tests found crucial evidence against him was flawed.

Authorities in the Victorian state pardoned Colin Campbell Ross, who was hanged for raping and murdering a 12-year old girl and dumping her body in an alley in 1921.

“This really is a tragic case where a miscarriage of justice has resulted in a man being hanged,” Victoria’s Attorney-General Rob Hulls said on Tuesday. “This pardon is a recognition that there are serious doubts about Mr Ross’s conviction for murder.”

“Serious doubts”? They are going through with this dog and pony show of a pardon because they doubt he was the murderer. Would there be something wrong with just telling both families involved and be done with it? Nobody was technically a mute donkey…you know what, this whole charade is one big mute donkey. I don’t even know if that is a possible application but that’s what I’m going with. If I’m wrong, you’ll have to forgive me*.

*Please don’t wait until 86 years to do it. 

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