Radio comments made in water-contamination case anger judge in B.C.

VERNON, B.C. – A judge in the north Okanagan city of Vernon, B.C., has delayed sentencing in a water-contamination case because of comments made on a radio program.

The Regional District of North Okanagan was found guilty last month of four charges after livestock effluent contaminated the Antwerp Springs well in the nearby community of Coldstream in January 2010.

The incident led to a do-not-drink order for about 1,800 residents.

But provincial court Judge Mayland McKimm says following his ruling he thinks he heard a regional district official say on radio that the agency did all it could to protect the people.

McKimm says that’s troubling and shows indifference to his ruling and the justice system, and he has ordered court staff to get transcripts of the radio broadcast.

The case is scheduled to return to court next Wednesday to set a new sentencing date.

(CKIZ)