Supreme Court affirms protection for informers in case of accused former cops
OTTAWA — Canada’s top court says police officers accused of crimes have no special right to mount a defence using information gleaned from informers in the course of their work.
In a unanimous ruling Friday, the Supreme Court of Canada says confidential information from informers cannot be disclosed simply because an accused speculates it might be helpful to his or her defence.
Rather, the accused person must meet the high standard of showing his or her innocence is at stake.
The high court judgment means four former RCMP officers in British Columbia who have been charged with breach of trust, fraud and obstruction of justice are not entitled to reveal informer-privileged information to their lawyers.