Assault Case Against Judge Dismissed

Assault Case Against Judge Dismissed

Monday, February 22, 2010 at 15:29

 

 

Precisely why a Meadow Lake Provincial Court judge was charged with assault and making threats may never be known.

 

That’s because the case was dismissed in a Battleford courtroom earlier today.

 

Today was supposed to be the first day of a week-long trial for Judge Donald Bird.

 

Instead, he was able to leave the courtroom in a few minutes, no longer facing those charges.

 

Crown prosecutor Anders Quist says he was unable to call any witnesses.

 

He said the complainants had moved to the United States, and refused to come to Battleford to testify.

 

Outside court, Quist drew a distinction between being found not guilty and being proven innocent.

 

But defence lawyer Sy Halyk said his client has been clearly found not guilty.

 

The charges against Judge Bird were laid in December, 2008.

 

They referred to an incident alleged to have taken place in May that year.

 

Bird has been suspended as a judge ever since.

 

Halyk says his client can now go back to being a judge.

 

Quist isn’t so sure.