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Crown won’t appeal acquittal of Manitoba police chief in obstruction case
WINNIPEG – The Crown is not going to appeal the acquittal of a former Manitoba police chief on charges that include obstruction of justice.
The justice department says it has decided there is no legal basis for an appeal in the case of Harry Bakema (bah-KEE-‘mah), a former top officer in East St. Paul north of Winnipeg.
Bakema was found not guilty last month on charges of obstruction, perjury and breach of trust.
He was accused of covering up for another police officer who caused a deadly motor vehicle crash in 2005.
A provincial court judge ruled Bakema’s investigation was flawed, but that the Crown was not able to prove criminal intent.
Bakema failed to test the other officer for impairment at the crash scene, and the most serious charges were dropped.
The crash killed Crystal Taman, and her husband called Bakema’s acquittal a step backward for the justice system.
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