Supreme Court set to rule on police officer note-taking ‘collusion’ case
OTTAWA – Canada’s top court rules today on whether police officers under investigation by a civilian watchdog can have a lawyer help them prepare their notes.
The case has pitted officers against the families of two men shot dead by Ontario’s provincial police in separate incidents in 2009.
The families argued before the Supreme Court that having a lawyer approve the notes that end up in their memo books is unacceptable.
They also said that allowing a single lawyer to act for several officers involved in an incident undermines rules against collusion.
Police argued they have the right to talk to a lawyer of their choosing before finalizing their notes.
In November 2011, Ontario’s top court sided with the families.
News from © The Canadian Press, . All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Join the Conversation!
Want to share your thoughts, add context, or connect with others in your community? Create a free account to comment on stories, ask questions, and join meaningful discussions on our new site.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.