"None of the officers were in court Tuesday because they got their lawyers to file a designation of council for them. That designation means they can skip out on a chunk of their court proceedings and have their lawyer or sometimes another appointed counsel under them, like a paralegal show up for them instead, as outlined in the Criminal Code."
"The officers' charges range from conspiracy to obstruct justice to drug trafficking. Police say the investigation includes a conspiracy to commit murder, shootings, extortion, robbery, drug trafficking and firearms offences."
"They will eventually need to be present when a jury is being selected, if a witness takes the stand to provide oral evidence and when [critical proceedings occur]."
Six Toronto police officers and one retired officer, along with seven civilians, were scheduled to appear in court Tuesday as part of a sweeping corruption investigation by York Regional Police. The officers face charges ranging from conspiracy to obstruct justice to drug trafficking, with the investigation involving organized crime, conspiracy to commit murder, shootings, extortion, robbery, and firearms offences. None of the officers appeared in court because they utilized their legal right to file a designation of counsel, allowing their lawyers to represent them instead. This designation, permitted under the Criminal Code, enables accused persons to skip certain court proceedings while their legal representatives attend on their behalf. The officers will eventually be required to appear in person during jury selection, when witnesses provide oral evidence, and at other critical stages of proceedings.
#police-corruption #criminal-charges #court-proceedings #organized-crime-investigation #toronto-police
Read at www.cbc.ca
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]