HUNTER: Judge scolded us over bail reform gets burned by scofflaw
· Toronto Sun
The “KICK ME” sign on the back of Newfoundland Judge Andrew Wadden may have only been figurative, but it was there for all to see.
About two weeks ago, I read of the jurist’s outburst in a Harbour Grace courtroom where he delivered yet another free pass to rock star recidivist Justin King .
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And you, the taxpaying public, had better goddamn like it and come to appreciate the judge’s wisdom. Still, the jurist’s brazen scolding of the taxpayer for demanding bail reform no doubt triggered snickers.
The scolding judge
After springing one-man demolition team King, the provincial court judge got to monologuing on the “dissonance between the bail reform movement and reality.”
Why, there’s more people in custody than ever! Why, the mean old media is shaping public opinion on justice matters! And, uhm, sure sometimes it goes south … but never mind that.
“It is those such events that inspire what I view to be inflammatory rhetoric, such as ‘jail not bail,’ or ‘catch and release,'” Wadden sniffed into the ether.
“The percentage of people in Canada in pre-trial detention continues to go up, yet the demand for bail reform continues to grow louder. These two things are obviously at odds.”
Taxpayers want him behind bars
Meet Justin King, 34, who is accused of a string of property crimes in Conception Bay. He has a propensity to breach his bail and now faces 17 charges, largely break and enters, since December.
The Mounties state the obvious in calling him a “prolific offender.” The courts have been packed for his appearances. Taxpayers want him behind bars and they want him to stay there.
Crown prosecutor Chris Burt was against the release of the self-admitted drug-addicted Justin King. The protagonist has shown a brazen disregard for compliance, the Crown noted.
“[Pre-trial detention] also comes at a significant cost in terms of loss of liberty [DUH!] and the impact on their mental and physical well-being, and on their families,” Wadden said. “If you return to custody, you will likely be in the position of having used your last chance. Please don’t waste this chance.”
Well, a funny thing happened on the way to the old bail game.
And he’s back behind bars!
Less than two weeks after Judge Wadden took the hoi polloi to the old faculty lounge woodshed, it has all ended in tears. People who aren’t laughing are furious.
Justin King is, no surprise, back behind bars and it seems everyone except Judge Wadden predicted this. Cassie Kelloway, whose home was allegedly broken into by King, didn’t need a crystal ball.
“I wasn’t shocked,” she told CBC News . “We predicted this would happen prior to him getting released two weeks ago.”
On Sunday night, Justin King got pinched. Cops on the Rock tagged an extra B & E onto his lineup card, along with extortion, forcible confinement, possessing a break-in instrument and four breaches of court conditions.
Sex assault threats
The homeowner identified the culprit as local hero, Justin King. And there are some tasty bits about his alleged latest escapades. According to cops, the extortion beef stems from accusations that King tried to “induce [a woman] by threats to engage in sexual intercourse.” He allegedly forcibly confined the same woman.
He’s on remand and back in court on Friday, needless to say, the Crown is opposed to King being sprung.
Justin King allegedly broke five conditions of his release.
And Judge Andrew Wadden? Well, as the great philosopher Groucho Marx once said: “Be open-minded, but not so open-minded that your brains fall out.”
Sounds like the Canadian judiciary.