STORY: "Accused Saskatoon murderer's confession questioned," published by CBC News on May 28, 2014.
SUB-HEADING: "Defence contends undercover operation changed Hale's personality."
GIST: "Six years after Douglas Hales led undercover police to Daleen Bosse's remains, his lawyer questions whether the accused murderer's confessions were truly reliable and voluntary. Hales was charged with first-degree murder August 10, 2008, three days after he confessed to an RCMP officer posing as a criminal. Hales said he killed the 25 year-old mother, and burned her. Bosse was last seen with Bosse four years earlier, the night the student teacher disappeared from a Saskatoon nightclub. Throughout the trial, Hales' lawyer has contended Bosse may have died of alcohol poisoning, while questioning the techniques used by undercover RCMP officers during a three-month sting operation......... Defence lawyer Bob Hrycan suggested Hales was eager to earn money from the agents who posed as car repossession men. Hrycan said the "socially inept, withdrawn" young father made it clear he'd go to any length to remain friends with the men who kept him running errands for a fictitious criminal organization.........For weeks, the defence has argued the so-called "Mr. Big" technique RCMP use to elicit confessions can be remarkably effective at generating false admissions. The sting typically involves befriending a suspect over several months, then encouraging the suspect to meet a fake crime boss, coming clean about any potential misdeeds. The undercover RCMP officers involved in the Hales case insist the accused knew he could leave their fictitious criminal organization at any time. They also said their goal was to seek the truth, not to elicit false information. Hales' lawyer argued undercover officers encouraged the accused to make crude, degrading statements, and to exaggerate his claims."
The entire story can be found at:
Update: Judge denies defence leave to call a psychological to testify on the effect a "Mr. Big" operation would have on the lawfulness of a statement made by the accused: "Monday afternoon, Justice Allbright ruled that he would not allow Patry to testify on the reliability of statements Hales gave to police. A confession Hales made after this arrest on August 10th, 2008 for the murder of Daleen Bosse. An interrogation video that is part of a “voir dire” therefore it is not yet considered evidence. Wednesday, Justice Allbright will rule whether the video confession is admissible and if the expert can testify on statements made by Hales during an RCMP “Mr. Big” sting operation.
http://news.store-1.net/167304/judge-rules-against-psychologist-testifying-in-hales-trial/
PUBLISHER'S NOTE:
Dear Reader. Keep your eye on the Charles Smith Blog. We are following this case.
I have added a search box for content in this blog which now encompasses several thousand posts. The search box is located near the bottom of the screen just above the list of links. I am confident that this powerful search tool provided by "Blogger" will help our readers and myself get more out of the site.
The Toronto Star, my previous employer for more than twenty incredible years, has put considerable effort into exposing the harm caused by Dr. Charles Smith and his protectors - and into pushing for reform of Ontario's forensic pediatric pathology system. The Star has a "topic" section which focuses on recent stories related to Dr. Charles Smith. It can be found at:
http://www.thestar.com/topic/
Information on "The Charles Smith Blog Award"- and its nomination process - can be found at:
http://smithforensic.blogspot.ca/2013/12/the-charles-smith-award-presented-to_28.html
I look forward to hearing from readers at:
hlevy15@gmail.com.
Harold Levy: Publisher; The Charles Smith Blog;
