Pubdate: Fri, 08 Feb 2008
Source: Province, The (CN BC)
Copyright: 2008 The Province
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/theprovince/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/476
Author: Fred Moore

OUR LEGAL SYSTEM HAS FORGOTTEN WHAT JUSTICE IS

I'm sure I'm but one of many Province readers who responded with 
disbelief to the decision of B.C. Supreme Court Justice Catherine 
Bruce to throw out the evidence in a marijuana bust because the RCMP 
apparently made a slight error.

After securing a search warrant, knocking on the front door as per 
protocol and receiving no reply, Surrey RCMP drug squad forcefully 
entered with weapons drawn.

But in spite of the discovery of 704 pot plants, it is the police who 
are declared at fault.

Hats off to Surrey Mayor Dianne Watts for calling the ruling "absurd."

Despite the stated position of the B.C. Civil Liberties Association, 
I fully agree with Surrey Mayor Watts when she declared: "Here we go, 
the rights of the criminals are first and foremost. And the safety of 
the general public, of course, is always secondary."

That seems to be what our legal system is all about.

It surely isn't justice. We've forgotten what that means.

Fred Moore, Abbotsford
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom