Pubdate: Wed, 25 Apr 2012
Source: Toronto Star (CN ON)
Copyright: 2012 The Toronto Star
Contact:  http://www.thestar.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/456
Author: Peter Small

TORONTO POLICE CORRUPTION TRIAL: CROWN CLOSES CASE

After more than three months, the Crown has closed its case in the
Toronto drug squad corruption trial.

Prosecutor Milan Rupic told an Ontario Superior Court jury Wednesday
that he and his three co-counsel would be calling no further evidence.

Jurors have heard from 25 witnesses in a trial that began Jan.
16.

Rupic also said that "in light of the available evidence," the Crown
will no longer be proceeding with four of 14 counts, including perjury.

John Schertzer, 54; Raymond Pollard, 48; Joseph Miched, 53; Steven
Correia, 45; and Ned Maodus, 49, still face various charges, laid in
2004, including attempting to obstruct justice, assault and extortion
between 1997 and 2002.

The jury returns Monday.

Defence lawyers for the five former Central Field Command drug squad
officers have not said if they will call evidence.

But Patrick Ducharme, lawyer for Maodus, has told the jury he
anticipates they will hear from Richard Benoit, another former drug
squad officer.

Former marijuana dealer Christopher Quigley, 46, testified that Benoit
and Maodus viciously punched, kicked and choked him when he was in
custody in 1998.

One of the counts - attempting to obstruct justice - for which the
Crown is no longer calling evidence concerns another former drug
dealer, Larry Vacon, 51.

Prosecutors had told the jury they expected Vacon would testify that
in 1997, after he was arrested by the drug squad, he saw them
searching his Parkdale apartment illegally.

But when Vacon took the stand in February, he said he could no longer
clearly remember the event. 
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