ottawacitizen.com/
OTTAWA — The Supreme Court of Canada won’t review the decision to release on bail for two members of the Hells Angels, including one who’s facing 22 counts of first-degree murder as part of a massive trial in Quebec.
The high court on Thursday dismissed a request to review the decision to release the two men. It’s the court’s practice not to divulge reasons for its decision to hear or not hear a case.
Quebec prosecutors had hoped to keep Robert Bonomo, a longtime member of the Hells Angels and reportedly one of its founders, and Christian Ménard behind bars rather than out on bail while they await trial.
The two were arrested as part of a massive raid called “Operation SharQc” on the Hells Angels in 2009. That raid resulted in the arrest in 156 suspected members of the biker gang, with those accused charged with murder, trafficking in narcotics and criminal organization offences.
Bonomo was charged with 22 counts of first-degree murder, according to court records.
Quebec’s Superior Court released the two men pending trial and an appeals court upheld the ruling. Quebec prosecutors then asked the Supreme Court of Canada to hear their appeal.
Late last month, Quebec Superior Court Judge James Brunton ordered the release of 31 suspected members of the Hells Angels because they wouldn’t be tried until 2023, something he said precluded their right to a speedy trial. All 31 were arrested as part of Operation SharQc.
The trial includes thousands of witnesses and millions of pages of evidence.
The federal government has argued that such mega-trials can result in mistrials or lengthy delays and costs to taxpayers. This week, the Conservatives reintroduced its mega-trial bill aimed at speeding up these large cases by giving more powers to judges and increased protection to jurors.
The mega-trial legislation will be up for second reading in the House of Commons on Thursday.
Read more: http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/court+review+Hells+Angels+bail+case/4957637/story.html#ixzz1PVXYnWWu
The high court on Thursday dismissed a request to review the decision to release the two men. It’s the court’s practice not to divulge reasons for its decision to hear or not hear a case.
Quebec prosecutors had hoped to keep Robert Bonomo, a longtime member of the Hells Angels and reportedly one of its founders, and Christian Ménard behind bars rather than out on bail while they await trial.
The two were arrested as part of a massive raid called “Operation SharQc” on the Hells Angels in 2009. That raid resulted in the arrest in 156 suspected members of the biker gang, with those accused charged with murder, trafficking in narcotics and criminal organization offences.
Bonomo was charged with 22 counts of first-degree murder, according to court records.
Quebec’s Superior Court released the two men pending trial and an appeals court upheld the ruling. Quebec prosecutors then asked the Supreme Court of Canada to hear their appeal.
Late last month, Quebec Superior Court Judge James Brunton ordered the release of 31 suspected members of the Hells Angels because they wouldn’t be tried until 2023, something he said precluded their right to a speedy trial. All 31 were arrested as part of Operation SharQc.
The trial includes thousands of witnesses and millions of pages of evidence.
The federal government has argued that such mega-trials can result in mistrials or lengthy delays and costs to taxpayers. This week, the Conservatives reintroduced its mega-trial bill aimed at speeding up these large cases by giving more powers to judges and increased protection to jurors.
The mega-trial legislation will be up for second reading in the House of Commons on Thursday.
Read more: http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/court+review+Hells+Angels+bail+case/4957637/story.html#ixzz1PVXYnWWu
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