Judge rules Jamie Bacon’s rights were violated
Posted Jun 9, 2010 06:02:03 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
SURREY (NEWS1130) – The lawyer for accused murderer Jamie Bacon says she and her client are pleased with a B.C. Supreme Court ruling saying Bacon’s Charter rights were violated while at the Surrey Pre-Trial Centre. Supreme Court Justice Mark McEwan says keeping Bacon in solitary confinement for 23 hours a day, limiting his access to lawyers, and denying him visitation threatened his psychological integrity.
Calling this cruel and unusual punishment, the judge has ordered the jail to restore Bacon’s visiting and telephone privileges. McEwan also accused prison officials of acting as agents for the police in their handling of Bacon, who is charged with murder in connection to the Surrey Six massacre.
Lawyer Kimberly Eldred says this case was about ensuring Bacon would get a fair trial in the upcoming murder case, “And defend himself properly, so that a really important matter could be properly heard. So that’s what this is about, obviously he is pleased with that outcome.”
Eldred adds the constitutional challenge was in no way meant to try to derail the murder trial.
