Decision on federal charge is still waiting
Bruce Winfield
February 23, 2010
North Island Gazette
A decision on whether to charge Marine Harvest Canada, after a June 16 complaint by researcher Alexandra Morton, is months away, court learned Feb. 2.
“I put over from the last court date, for a decision on whether the federal Crown is going to take over the case,” said Judge Brian Saunderson when the case was called Feb. 2.
Federal Crown Todd Gerhart replied the “decision has not been made,” which prompted Judge Saunderson to ask why not. “A decision was ordered for today,” said the judge.
Gerhart again apologized for the delay.
“We’re working diligently to make this decision ... it will be made as soon as possible,” said Gerhart. “Crown must consider the sufficiency of the evidence and whether there is a likelihood of a conviction. There is an ongoing Crown followup” and “we hope to have a decision soon on whether it will proceed.”
The judge was not pleased with that news.
“The federal government has had since June 16 of last year to come up with a decision,” he said.
Gerhart replied the case is a “complicated matter” and there has been a change in jurisdiction since the alleged event.
Read the full story in the North Island Gazette.
Posted February 23rd, 2010
