FORTS ST. JOHN -Peace River North MLA Dan Davies is questioning the judicial system’s state following the court’s decision to dismiss the Edward Owen Berry case due to unreasonable delay.
Former B.C. Ministry of Child and Family Development manager, Berry, no longer stands accused of sexually assaulting a minor after a Provincial Court Judge dismissed the counts due to unreasonable delay.
In a statement on Friday, he says this is an example of a system “overburdened with a backlog of cases”.
“As much as this is a harrowing example of our overwhelmed judicial process, it is also a ringing indictment on our provincial government and Attorney General, who has failed to perform his primary responsibility of ensuring the resources are in place to deliver justice in communities across British Columbia.”
Davies notes that COVID-19 isn’t to blame as the delays unfolded before the pandemic.
“This is an inherent issue that has persisted in our judicial system since before the pandemic and will continue unless the Attorney General works to ensure proper judicial and prosecutorial resources are in place.
“It is his job to ensure that all cases brought before a B.C. court are given the time and resources needed to be processed swiftly and fairly— so that justice can be served.”
Prior to the decision, Berry had been charged with sexual assault, sexual interference of a person under 16, and exposing himself to a person under 16.
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