Regina judge says police “do not understand their obligations to preserve and disclose evidence”
Two weeks ago, Saskatchewan provincial Judge Clifford Toth ordered a stay of proceedings against a man accused of drunk driving saying that the police “do not understand their obligations to preserve and disclose evidence.” The Regina said anything short of a stay of proceedings would be “inappropriate.” During the court proceedings, the lawyer of the alleged
drunk driver had asked to see the RCMP’s surveillance footage. However, the footage was never turned over. In his decision, Toth slammed the police saying, “the police conduct in question represents a systemic disregard for the Crown’s disclosure obligations and that the integrity of the justice system would be prejudiced by allowing this matter to continue.” RCMP
spokesman Sgt. Paul Dawson said that detachments have been notified about proper surveillance footage procedures, reports the National Post.