SGT. MICHAEL FERRY IS A LIAR

Retired justice Lee Ferrier finds Sgt. Michael Ferry was “deliberately dishonest” under oath regarding arrest of Ryan Mitchell.

Lying under oath in a court trial is a criminal offence of PERJURY which demands a jail sentence because it strikes at the very core of the administration of justice – especially when it’s a police officer who is wilfully misleading the court. “Sgt. Ferry was found to have given incredible testimony under oath that can only have been deliberately dishonest. Other factors included Ferry’s previous disciplinary findings involving “serious dishonesty,” the fact that he was a supervisor whose illegal retaliatory conduct had occurred in full public view, and that he had failed to respect a citizen’s right to be left alone.” We defence lawyers will remember this officer’s name.

Source: Lying Toronto police officer gets two-month demotion for G20 choking | Toronto Star

CARDING – I THINK THE PROBLEM IS:

CARDING – I THINK THE PROBLEM IS: that most people don’t understand what it is. You’re sitting in the park or outside of your house or in your car in a parking lot talking to someone – minding your own business and doing nothing illegal – when the police approach you, demand you identify yourself, explain and justify what you’re doing and perhaps even search you. Their uniform, authoritarian tone of voice and demeanour and veiled threat intimidate you into compliance. They have no authority to do this but prudence suggests you should comply. They record who you are, where you were, when you were there, what you were doing and who you were with so they can compare this information in past and future crimes investigations.

Influential voices add to pressure on Police Chief Mark Saunders to reform a practice they say causes “distrust and disrespect.”

Source: Prominent Toronto citizens jointly call for end to carding | Toronto Star

POLICE RECORD CHECKS

What police forces enter on CPIC and reveal to American customs officers and on PRCs to employers has and continues to cause a lot of problems. “Some police routinely disclose non-conviction information (e.g. acquittals and withdrawn charges) and non-criminal information (e.g. mental health incidents). These disclosures can unfairly affect an individual’s employment and volunteer opportunities.” See what the Information and Privacy Commissioner (pages 8-10) has to say. A court challenge is pending and our Premier has promised to address this issue with legislation – the sooner the better.

Information and Privacy Commissioner Annual Report

WHAT CAN YOU DO IF YOU FIND A DOG IN A HOT CAR?

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/story/2013/07/10/ottawa-walmart-hot-cars-vehicles-dogs-animals-worker-fired-cheney-parking-lot-customer.html?cmp=rss

Apparently you can get fired for reporting it. http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/wal-mart-employee-fired-after-reporting-dog-in-hot-truck-1.1347231?cmp=rss

Source: The Barrister Brief: Animal Law: What to Do If You Witness a Dog (or Other Animal) in a Hot Car

MANDATORY FINES

Harper has imposed a mandatory fine upon every single criminal conviction in addition to whatever other penalty is imposed, no matter what the circumstances. This may be okay if you’re financially well off but for this defendant “who had addiction issues, was homeless and lived on $250 per month in social assistance”, it was a problem. Justice “Glass, who earns $308,000 annually as a Superior Court judge” doesn’t think so. We, the members of the Criminal Lawyers Association don’t agree. This is why we’re joining the appeal.

Source: Victim surcharges ‘entrench cyle of poverty’: lawyer

Case thrown out due to duty counsel’s rudeness

ONE PERSON’S EXPERIENCE WITH DUTY COUNSEL – If you are arrested and want to exercise your right to get legal advice but don’t know a lawyer then you can speak with duty counsel for free. Legal Aid contracts out the service to the Sykes Corp. who hires lawyer(s) to answer the phone and provide this service. This lawyer was “the ONLY duty counsel available in Ontario” when this person was arrested. You can read about the level of service she was given.

Source: Case thrown out due to duty counsel’s rudeness