Pubdate: Sun, 19 Feb 2017
Source: Province, The (CN BC)
Copyright: 2017 Postmedia Network Inc.
Contact:  http://www.theprovince.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/476
Author: Louise Dickson
Page: 16

NO SHERIFF, SO COURT CUTS ACCUSED DRUG DEALER LOOSE

A B.C. Supreme Court justice freed an accused cocaine trafficker
Friday because there was no sheriff to lead the man from a cell in the
Victoria courthouse to the courtroom.

The decision highlighted an ongoing sheriff shortage that has closed
courtrooms, delayed trials and tossed cases out of court around B.C.
The Victoria courthouse is particularly hard hit.

Justice Robert Johnston blamed the situation on "a lack of provincial
will to provide the necessary resources," as he stayed a charge of
possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking against Richard
D'Allesandro.

"Crown is ready to go. Defence is ready to go. The court is ready to
go. Mr. D'Allesandro is in custody in this building, but he is not
able to attend because there are no sheriffs to bring him to court,"
Johnston said.

"It's completely unacceptable, and I am not prepared to conduct this
trial in Mr. D'Allesandro's absence. He has a right to be here and he
should be here."

The shortage worries Judge Robert Higinbotham, administrator of the
South Island provincial court.

Even at the best of times, staffing is tight in Victoria, he said.
Attempts are made to bring in sheriffs from elsewhere in B.C., but
they're not always available.

"The real problem is that you just can't hire anyone off the street
for this job. You have to have properly trained people and the next
graduating class from the Justice Institute is in June," Higinbotham
said.

This week, Victoria asked for five additional sheriffs but got only
one. That meant two trial courts were closed on Wednesday.

It also meant that a provincial court judge - earning a salary of more
than $240,000 - wasn't able to sit in court for three days because a
sheriff, earning about $56,000, was not available.

Defence lawyer Michael Munro, who represented D'Allesandro, had
another case stayed this week for the same reason.

"It's absolutely ridiculous and infuriating," Munro
said.

Victoria lawyer Tom Morino had two criminal trials adjourned this week
without notice because of the sheriff shortage.

"In 30 years, I've never seen the court system in such a state of
complete and utter chaos," he said.

Dean Purdy, spokesman for the B.C. Government and Service Employees'
Union, said the problem isn't recruiting sheriffs, but retaining them.
Sheriffs are the lowest paid of the enforcement agencies in B.C., he
said.

"They can't make a living in Victoria or the Lower Mainland. The
government needs to pay the sheriffs properly for the job they do,"
Purdy said.

An email from the Ministry of Justice said from time to time, cases
must be rescheduled because of a shortage of sheriffs.

"Staffing needs are continually reviewed, and the ministry continues
to recruit and train new sheriffs to meet ongoing demand," the
statement said.
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MAP posted-by: Matt