THE CANADIAN PRESS
OTTAWA – Canada's top court has thrown out evidence of cocaine worth up to $4 million because the police search "flagrantly" breached the suspect's Charter rights.
The Supreme Court of Canada ruled 6-1 Friday to acquit Bradley Harrison of all drug charges.
It was one of four judgments handed down that clarify legal limits for judges and police when it comes to evidence obtained through detention or searches that cross the Charter line.
The rulings underscore that any breach of rights must be balanced against the value of the evidence and the facts of each case.
The court says Harrison and a friend were stopped in northern Ontario in 2004 by a provincial police officer who had no justifiable reason for pulling them over.
The officer then went on to search the vehicle and found 35 kilograms of cocaine with a street value of up to $4 million.
Harrison was originally sentenced to five years in prison.
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Sloppy job by the police and the Crown. Wonder how much that cost?
OTTAWA – Canada's top court has thrown out evidence of cocaine worth up to $4 million because the police search "flagrantly" breached the suspect's Charter rights.
The Supreme Court of Canada ruled 6-1 Friday to acquit Bradley Harrison of all drug charges.
It was one of four judgments handed down that clarify legal limits for judges and police when it comes to evidence obtained through detention or searches that cross the Charter line.
The rulings underscore that any breach of rights must be balanced against the value of the evidence and the facts of each case.
The court says Harrison and a friend were stopped in northern Ontario in 2004 by a provincial police officer who had no justifiable reason for pulling them over.
The officer then went on to search the vehicle and found 35 kilograms of cocaine with a street value of up to $4 million.
Harrison was originally sentenced to five years in prison.
+++++++
Sloppy job by the police and the Crown. Wonder how much that cost?