The Crown say it won’t appeal the not-guilty verdict for a Saskatchewan farmer who was accused of fatally shooting a young Red Pheasant First Nation member in the head.
Last month, a jury acquitted Gerald Stanley of second-degree murder in the death of 22-year-old Colten Boushie.
The Crown says a verdict can’t be appealed because people don’t agree with it or because there may be questions about the investigation.
Saskatchewan’s senior Crown prosecutor says there has to be an error in law for an appeal to be filed.
The trial heard that Boushie was one of five young people who were looking for help with a flat tire when they drove into Stanley’s farmyard near Biggar in August 2016.
Stanley testified that he fired warning shots to scare them away and the gun accidentally went off again when he reached for the keys in the SUV’s ignition.
The case was filled with racial tension from the beginning and the verdict was met with outrage from Boushie’s relatives and their supporters.
Family members met with federal ministers along with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to ask for changes to the justice system and to how juries are selected to better reflect Indigenous people.
Protests were also held around Canada to voice displeasure with the outcome of the case.
What the justice system fails to realize is, if the justice system fails, justice fails. When there is no justice, there is anarchy. This so called system of justice should be looked at hard and fast or lawmakers will discover that if it fails to deliver justice, justice will be served outside of that system, and that would result in lawlessness. Do we really want that?
Very sad to realize there is no appeal ….it is wrong to stack the jury with individuals who guarantee an outcome …
It is wrong to take another person’s life no matter what!! The truth prevails!!
My heart goes out to the family…and to Colten Boushie.
beyond belief !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Let’s see if a Public Inquiry will agree that this was the right decision and work towards addressing the injustices this case has highlighted. Hoping that the Moe and the Indigenous leadership can get this happening now that the prosecution has decided not to appeal. No excuse for not holding an Inquiry now.
What the justice system fails to realize is, if the justice system fails, justice fails. When there is no justice, there is anarchy. This so called system of justice should be looked at hard and fast or lawmakers will discover that if it fails to deliver justice, justice will be served outside of that system, and that would result in lawlessness. Do we really want that?
Very sad to realize there is no appeal ….it is wrong to stack the jury with individuals who guarantee an outcome …
It is wrong to take another person’s life no matter what!! The truth prevails!!
My heart goes out to the family…and to Colten Boushie.
beyond belief !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Let’s see if a Public Inquiry will agree that this was the right decision and work towards addressing the injustices this case has highlighted. Hoping that the Moe and the Indigenous leadership can get this happening now that the prosecution has decided not to appeal. No excuse for not holding an Inquiry now.