A Canadian man has been declared “factually innocent” by an appeal court after serving 18 months in prison due to a clerical error involving a username inspired by The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. Brandon Klayme, a resident of Halifax, Nova Scotia, was originally convicted in 2023 on charges including child luring and possession of child pornography, with his case relying entirely on the attribution of a specific Kik messaging account.
The Username Discrepancy
The investigation into the case faltered due to a misread character. While Klayme’s username was fus_ro_dah—a reference to the iconic Dragon Shout from Skyrim—the actual suspect identified in the case operated under the handle fus__ro_dah. The police officer involved in the investigation failed to notice the second underscore, a subtle detail that went unaddressed throughout the original trial.
In his affidavit, Klayme noted, “In the latter stages of preparing my appeal arguments, it was discovered that the subpoena contained a subtle mistake that changed the course of my life.”
Court Findings
The appeals court ruled that the conviction was unsafe, highlighting that a search of Klayme’s residence yielded no evidence of the alleged offenses or any activity on the messaging platform used by the perpetrator. The court further suggested that the correct username likely would have pointed authorities toward a suspect in California, rather than Klayme.
“In these circumstances, Mr. Klayme is factually innocent of the offences,” the court decision stated. “He should never have been charged, let alone convicted.”
Quick Facts
- Innocent Party: Brandon Klayme of Halifax, Nova Scotia.
- The Error: Police confused fus_ro_dah (one underscore) with the perpetrator's fus__ro_dah (two underscores).
- Legal Outcome: An appeals court declared Klayme factually innocent following 18 months of incarceration.
- Evidence: No digital or physical evidence ever linked Klayme to the Kik account or the crimes.