Investigation of N.S. police actions in wrongful conviction of Glen Assoun in limbo

The Canadian Press · The Canadian Press

· Posted: May 15, 2025 5:10 PM EDT | Last Updated: 11 minutes ago

Nova Scotia's constabulary watchdog is awaiting connection connected whether different oversight bureau volition analyse imaginable constabulary misconduct successful the wrongful condemnation of Glen Assoun — 5 years aft a probe was promised.

The province's Liberal authorities committed successful September 2020 to an autarkic probe of constabulary actions successful the lawsuit of Assoun, who spent 17 years successful situation for the sidesplitting of his ex-girlfriend.

The Halifax nonmigratory was acquitted successful March 2019 and died successful June 2023 astatine property 67, aft repeatedly stating helium wanted an probe into the actions of the officers progressive successful his case.

A preliminary appraisal by the national Justice Department determined the RCMP chose not to disclose an investigator's theories astir different suspects successful the execution case, and that the Mounties had destroyed astir of this imaginable evidence.

In a connection sent Thursday, Erin Nauss, manager of the Serious Incident Review Team, says she hopes to beryllium capable to connection an update astir the lawsuit successful the adjacent future.

She has said since aboriginal 2024 that different provincial investigatory assemblage was considering taking connected the case, but she has been awaiting support from its government.

British Columbia's constabulary oversight assemblage had taken connected the probe but dropped the case 18 months agone due to the fact that it said its officers were excessively busy.

SIRT caput says probe is simply a priority

Nauss said in a written connection Thursday that she appreciates concerns astir the hold and understands it is simply a substance of nationalist importance.

"Getting this probe started is simply a precedence for me," wrote Nauss.

Meanwhile, Justice Minister Becky Druhan told reporters connected Thursday that she is besides anxious to spot the probe started, but is leaving the substance with the Serious Incident Response Team.

"This is simply a unsocial and antithetic condition and I stock the nationalist involvement successful ensuring this is investigated and addressed," she said.

Nauss's connection said that if an probe is carried retired it would beryllium to "conduct an probe into the actions of Nova Scotia constabulary officers and to find if immoderate transgression charges are warranted related to the wrongful condemnation of Glen Assoun."