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Technical issue delays police DUI case

Sep 27, 2017 | 3:00 PM

The case of a city police officer charged with impaired driving was delayed until mid-October today due to an issue with digital evidence.

Brett Lee Henry, a 35-year-old member of the Prince Albert Police Service with more than 13 years’ experience, was charged criminally in July. According to a statement by city police, Henry became a suspect after the department received a civilian tip in the early morning hours of March 3 reporting a suspected impaired driver. The vehicle and driver were not immediately located, but police said a lengthy investigation led to the charge against Henry.

The officer did not appear in court personally, and defence lawyer Michael Owens requested the case be adjourned until next month. Owens said the disclosure documents sent to his office by the Crown include numerous digital surveillance video recordings, but he has not been given the login information required to access the contents of the discs.

“There’s numerous pieces of video evidence,” Owens said. “We want to be able to view the videos.”

One of the videos, Owens said, included surveillance footage collected from the GAS Tavern, a local bar and nightclub.

Judge Barry Singer granted the request for more time, and asked the Crown to ensure Henry’s defence team had full access to the evidence.

Henry is on paid administrative leave while the case is before the courts, and police said an internal review will be conducted after the courts conclude the matter. The Crown’s case has not been tested before the courts at this stage and Henry is presumed innocent.

 

Taylor.macpherson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @TMacPhersonNews

–EDITOR’S NOTE: This story has been closed to commenting because the matter is still before the court.