B.C. man who was wrongfully jailed in China offers advice to the 2 Michaels upon their return
A B.C. man who was wrongfully jailed in China back in 2014 is offering his advice to Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor upon their return to Canada.
Entrepreneurs and Christian aid workers, Kevin and Julia Garratt had lived in China for 30 years when they were arrested at accused of spying by Chinese authorities on Aug. 4, 2014.
The two were arrested while exiting a restaurant. Julia would spend six months in jail, while Kevin was incarcerated for nearly two years.
"I'm thinking, ‘How did they get this so wrong?’" said Kevin.
Little did he know, back in Canada, Chinese man Su Bin had been arrested and accused of stealing data of American military projects. Bin would later be extradited to the U.S. and plead guilty to the charges brought against him.
Like the two Michaels, who were jailed for nearly three years in apparent retaliation for Canada’s detention of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou at the request of the United States, Kevin and Julia were seemingly arrested on bogus charges because the Chinese government wanted to make a point.
The couple would eventually be returned home to Canada in 2017.
Like many Canadians, Kevin was relieved to see the two Michaels heading home Friday, but relief wasn’t the only emotion he was feeling.
"It brought back all the memories,” he said. “All the memories of sitting in that cell for two years.”
Kevin says it took him about a year and a half to adapt back to his normal lifestyle. He encourages Kovrig and Spavor to take it slow.
“It’s going to take them some time to readjust,” he said. “They’ve lived a little confined environment for such a long time.”
Garratt says it was the little things that helped him get back to normal.
“Take time to walk in the park, take time with coffee with friends,” he said. “Don’t jump back to work or a write a book. Do that in time.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Indian envoy warns of 'big red line,' days after charges laid in Nijjar case
India's envoy to Canada insists relations between the two countries are positive overall, despite what he describes as 'a lot of noise.'
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
With Donald Trump sitting just feet away, Stormy Daniels testified Tuesday at the former president's hush money trial about a sexual encounter the porn actor says they had in 2006 that resulted in her being paid to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.
U.S. paused bomb shipment to Israel to signal concerns over Rafah invasion, official says
The U.S. paused a shipment of bombs to Israel last week over concerns that Israel was approaching a decision on launching a full-scale assault on the southern Gaza city of Rafah against the wishes of the U.S.
Former homicide detective explains how police will investigate shooting outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion
Footage from dozens of security cameras in the area of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion could be the key to identifying the suspect responsible for shooting and seriously injuring a security guard outside the rapper’s sprawling home early Tuesday morning, a former Toronto homicide detective says.
Northern Ont. woman makes 'eggstraordinary' find
A chicken farmer near Mattawa made an 'eggstraordinary' find Friday morning when she discovered one of her hens laid an egg close to three times the size of an average large chicken egg.
Susan Buckner, who played spirited cheerleader Patty Simcox in 'Grease,' dead at 72
Susan Buckner, best known for playing peppy Rydell High School cheerleader Patty Simcox in the 1978 classic movie musical 'Grease,' has died. She was 72.
Jeremy Skibicki has 'uphill battle' to prove he's not criminally responsible in Winnipeg killings: legal analysts
Accused killer Jeremy Skibicki could have a challenging time convincing a judge that he is not criminally responsible for the deaths of four Indigenous women, a legal analyst says.
Bye-bye bag fee: Calgary repeals single-use bylaw
A Calgary bylaw requiring businesses to charge a minimum bag fee and only provide single-use items when requested has officially been tossed.
Alcohol believed to be a factor in boating incident after 2 men die: N.S. RCMP
Two Nova Scotia men are dead after a boat they were travelling in sank in the Annapolis River in Granville Centre, N.S., on Monday.