Ontario lawyer to review Fredericton police after murder charges stayed
Police force says it won't disclose the issue that led to stays of 3 murder trials
An Ontario lawyer has been tasked with reviewing the Fredericton police major crime unit practices after an 'error' led to scuttling three murder trials, though the police force says the exact nature of the problem will remain secret.
The police announced Wednesday that Ian D. Scott had been retained to carry out the review starting later this month, with a public report to be issued by the end of the year.
From 2008 to 2013, Scott served as director of Ontario's Special Investigations Unit. The unit investigates police in that province.
However, the force said not all information will be released.
"Under the Canada Evidence Act public disclosure of the evidentiary issue in question is prohibited on the grounds that such disclosure would bring the administration of justice into disrepute," a news release said.
The release did not say what section of the law would prohibit the release of the information. The force has yet to respond to a question about which section it is referring to in the law.
On June 27, three Fredericton-region murder trials came to a halt when the Crown stayed charges against Erica Lea Ann Blyth, Joshua John McIsaac, Devon Mark Hill Hood, Matthew David LeBlanc and Travis James Snowsell.
Blyth and McIsaac were accused of killing Brandon Donelan in 2022. Hood and LeBlanc were being tried separately and were also accused of killing Donelan. McIsaac was also accused, along with Snowsell, of killing Corey Christopher Markey in Fredericton in 2021.
The Fredericton police said the stays were the result of an error in its investigation into Markey's death. The force said the error also affected the RCMP's investigation into Donelan's death.
'Practices, policies, and procedures' under review
The only information diisclosed until Wednesday was that there was an "insurmountable evidentiary issue," and that the force would seek an independent review.
The news release says the review will examine the force's "practices, policies, and procedures relating to our Major Crime – Major Case Management services."
The force hasn't said whether the error stemmed from the actions of one officer or if it was a systemic problem.
"We take full responsibility and accountability for the circumstances that led to this outcome," Gary Forward, the police chief, said Wednesday's statement.
CBC News has requested an interview with the police chief about the review but was told he was not available.
The police force didn't answer questions Wednesday about how Scott was selected, whether a public inquiry was considered, or if anyone's job status with the force has been affected by the error.
New Brunswick Justice Minster Rob McKee has not provided an interview about the stayed charges.
Public Safety Minister Robert Gauvin, whose mandate includes policing in the province, has also not yet commented.
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