Criminal
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September 20, 2024
New rules in Nova Scotia represent a ‘minimum practice’ for regulation of policing, academic says
Nova Scotia has outlined new policing standards for police services in the province, brought in as part of its response to recommendations from a commission set up to look into a violent 2020 shooting spree that led to the death of nearly two dozen people.
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September 20, 2024
SENTENCING - Homicide - Second degree murder - Young persons - Adult sentences
Appeal by BJM from his adult sentence imposed on grounds that he should have been sentenced as a young person. BJM was 17 years old when he shot and killed the victim. He pleaded guilty to second degree murder. BJM was initially charged with first degree murder and breach of a firearms prohibition. Prior to the trial, the Crown gave notice it would seek an adult sentence if BJM was convicted of these crimes. At the trial, BJM pleaded guilty to second degree murder based on an agreed statement of facts.
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September 19, 2024
Bar groups, regulators condemn Manitoba NDP’s ouster of lawyer MLA over Nygard connection
The Law Society of Manitoba, the Federation of Law Societies of Canada (FLSC) and Crown and defence bar groups are deploring comments publicly made by Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew and Mike Moyes, chair of the governing NDP caucus, that purported to justify expelling a Winnipeg criminal lawyer from their caucus because he works at a law firm that defends Peter Nygard, a high-profile Manitoban recently convicted of multiple sex crimes.
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September 19, 2024
Security concerns call for stronger immigration screening | Sergio R. Karas
The recent arrests of multiple suspects on terrorism-related charges are a wake-up call for Canada, highlighting an urgent need to overhaul immigration screening processes to safeguard national security and protect the public.
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September 19, 2024
Successful appeal of sex assault sentence parses locations described in s. 161(a) of Code
Some say the rising cost of tickets makes it impossible to enjoy a night at the movies. Lack of finances may be a bar to cinema attendance, but what about a court order restricting one from entering the building?
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September 19, 2024
Harsher sentences: Not what the evidence says | Emily Stewart and David Dorson
Recently in this publication, retired judge Norman Douglas argued that Canada should have harsher penalties for some people who commit particularly heinous crimes, possibly including the death penalty. While appealing to some on an emotional level, Douglas’s argument does not fit the facts.
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September 18, 2024
Canada imposes additional sanctions on Hamas, Iran and radical Israeli settlers
Canada has imposed sanctions on 11 individuals and two entities found to have directly or indirectly participated in the planning and execution of attacks on Israel that began on Oct. 7, 2023, according to a release.
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September 18, 2024
Commission asks public to share experiences of foreign interference in democracy, propose fixes
The federal foreign interference inquiry led by Commissioner Marie-Josée Hogue (a judge on leave from the Quebec Court of Appeal) has rolled out a questionnaire soliciting the public’s detailed feedback on experiences and ideas regarding foreign interference in Canada’s federal elections and democratic processes.
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September 18, 2024
Appeal court addresses sentencing for man convicted of murder seven months from 18th birthday
On Dec. 7, 2019, B.J.M. was only seven months short of his 18th birthday when he fatally shot a rival gang member in the back.
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September 18, 2024
More reasons why rape exemptions to abortion laws don’t work: Access | Abby Hafer
As I noted in my article of Sept. 13, 2024, anti-abortion activists will sometimes say that they would permit exemption to abortion bans in the cases of rape or incest. This can make their anti-abortion stance seem somewhat less cruel.