Protecting identity of informant more important than open trial, Quebec appeals court rules

[shockedcanadian]

Canada in a nutshell. Modelling the old Soviet system.

No wonder our allies don't trust us...

Protecting identity of informant more important than open trial, Quebec appeals court rules

Details of the secret case were kept secret, including the nature of the crime, where it allegedly took place, the name of the judge and the names of the…

nationalpost.com

Quebec’s Court of Appeal ruled Wednesday it cannot publicly disclose any details about a secret trial involving a police informant that came to light earlier this year.

The province’s high court delivered a redacted decision, ruling that the right of informants to stay anonymous supersedes the principle of court proceedings being open to the public.


“The court will dismiss the applications because of the requirements imposed on it by the protection of informer privilege,” the ruling says.


Court of Appeal justices Marie-France Bich, Martin Vauclair and Patrick Healy ordered that all details of the case that could identify the informant, identified as the “designated person” in the ruling, remain sealed.



Four motions seeking more information about the secret case were heard in June — one from the province’s attorney general, one from the chief judge of Quebec court and two from media organizations, including The Canadian Press.

 

[Baron Von Murderpaws]

Well, sometimes the source of the information needs protection. Otherwise they could be slaughtered before the court case is over with.

As long as they can prove their claims are true and accurate, I don't see the harm in it while the case is going on.

 

[shockedcanadian]

Well, sometimes the source of the information needs protection. Otherwise they could be slaughtered before the court case is over with.

As long as they can prove their claims are true and accurate, I don't see the harm in it while the case is going on.

If a man cannot face his accuser, it is not justice.