VERDICT IN R. v. BULATCI

OTTAWA – November 19, 2009 – A jury in the Supreme Court of the Northwest Territories today found Emrah Bulatci, 25, guilty of first-degree murder in the shooting death of RCMP Constable Christopher Worden.

Constable Worden was shot on October 6, 2007 while responding to a call in Hay River, NWT. Mr. Bulatci was charged on October 7 with the offence and was arrested in Edmonton on October 12.

Crown prosecutor John Cliffe acknowledged the hard work of the jury and its consideration of this very difficult case.

Mr. Bulatci has 60 days to decide whether or not he will appeal the verdict.

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SENTENCE IN R. v. MUNYANEZA

MONTREAL – October 29, 2009 – Désiré Munyaneza was sentenced today in the Superior Court of Quebec to life in jail, with no possibility of parole for 25 years, for offences committed under the Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes Act.

On May 22, 2009, the Court found Mr. Munyaneza guilty in the first-ever prosecution under this act. He was convicted on all seven counts of genocide and crimes against humanity and war crimes, which include murder, causing serious bodily harm, raping and pillaging. The offences were committed against the Tutsi population in Butare, Rwanda, in 1994.

This prosecution demonstrates “how seriously the fight against impunity is taken and the importance of applying the law,” said Pascale Ledoux, Crown prosecutor with the Public Prosecution Service of Canada.

Mr. Munyaneza has 30 days to decide whether or not he will seek to appeal the sentence.

The PPSC is responsible for prosecuting offences under federal jurisdiction – including war crimes offences – and for providing prosecution-related legal advice to law enforcement agencies.

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NATIONAL PROSECUTION AWARDS FOR TOP PROSECUTORS

WHITEHORSE, October 22, 2009 – The Federal-Provincial-Territorial (FPT) Heads of Prosecutions Committee has recognized the outstanding accomplishments of three prosecutors, who were honoured at a ceremony held September 16, 2009. The award program, instituted in 2006, honours professional excellence, exemplary service and outstanding achievements.

The following prosecutors were recognized for their contributions to advancing and promoting prosecutions within the Canadian criminal justice system:

• Mr. David O’Brien, Q.C., Senior Crown Counsel with the Crown Attorney’s Office in Prince Edward Island, was awarded the 2009 Humanitarian Award, which recognizes professional excellence and exemplary service, both in the workplace and the community. In addition to excellence as a prosecutor and legal educator, Mr. MacDonald’s varied volunteer work sets him apart as someone singularly dedicated to community service.
• Mr. Robert H. Wright, Q.C., Executive Director, Criminal Appeals and Special Prosecutions with the Ministry of the Attorney General of British Columbia, was awarded the 2009 Commitment to Justice Award. Throughout Mr. Wright’s distinguished career as a prosecutor, he prosecuted serious and high-profile cases including the Air India matter while serving as a legal educator and mentor to young prosecutors.
• Ms. Trudy Caisse, formerly Crown Counsel with the Criminal Justice Division of the Alberta Department of Justice, was awarded posthumously the Courage and Perseverance Award 2009. She prosecuted many difficult and high-profile matters including several murder cases, while also acting as an articling principal and mentor to several students and young lawyers over the course of her career, including after 2007, when she was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Ms. Caisse continued to handle her files and offer assistance to other prosecutors, despite chemotherapy and radiation sessions, until December, 2008, when she passed away.

The awards were handed out by Mr. Dennis Cooley, Deputy Attorney General of Yukon Territory.

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AMARA PLEADS GUILTY TO TERRORISM OFFENCES

OTTAWA – October 8, 2009 – Zakaria Amara, one of the accused in Project Osage entered, today, a guilty plea in the Ontario Superior Court, to one count of knowingly participating in or contributing to, directly or indirectly, any activity of a terrorist group for the purpose of enhancing the ability of the terrorist group to facilitate or carry out a terrorist activity, thereby committing an offence contrary to section 83.18(1) of the Criminal Code.

He also pleaded guilty to one count of committing an indictable offence in association with a terrorist group, namely doing anything with intent to cause an explosion that was likely to cause serious bodily harm or death or was likely to cause serious damage to property contrary to s.81(1)(a) of the Criminal Code.

An agreed statement of facts was filed with the court. Sentencing submissions will be made at a later date.

Mr. Amara has been in custody since his arrest on June 2, 2006.

A publication ban continues to prohibit publication of the names of co-accused as well as any information tending to identify the co-accused.

Six adults remain accused in this prosecution.

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SENTENCE IN R. v. DIRIE

OTTAWA – October 2, 2009 – Ali Dirie was sentenced today in the Ontario Superior Court to two years in addition to time served, for a total of seven years in jail, for his role in a terrorist plot.

On September 21, 2009, Mr. Dirie pleaded guilty to one count of knowingly participating in or contributing to, directly or indirectly, any activity of a terrorist group for the purpose of enhancing the ability of the terrorist group to facilitate or carry out a terrorist activity contrary to section 83.18(1) of the Criminal Code.

Seven persons remain accused and prosecutions are ongoing in this matter. Publication bans remain in effect.

The parties have 30 days to decide whether or not they will seek to appeal.

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NAMOUH FOUND GUILTY

MONTREAL – October 1, 2009 – Saïd Namouh was found guilty today in the Court of Quebec of four charges under the Anti-Terrorism Act.

Mr. Namouh was arrested on September 12, 2007 and charged with conspiracy to deliver, discharge or detonate an explosive or lethal device in a public place contrary to s. 431.2 of the Criminal Code (a terrorism offence). Three additional terrorism-related charges under sections 83.18, 83.19 and 83.2 of the Criminal Code were also laid, alleging participation in the activities of a terrorist group, facilitating terrorist activities and extortion of a foreign government for the benefit, at the direction and in association with a terrorist group.

Mr. Namouh has 30 days to decide whether or not he will appeal the decision.

The PPSC is responsible for prosecuting offences – including terrorism offences – under more than 50 federal statutes and for providing prosecution-related legal advice to law enforcement agencies.