RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki Resigns, Tweedie Appeal, Kentville Councilors' Property Battle, Sandeson Murder Trial Closing Arguments

This week in Nova Scotia and Canadian legal news, the biggest story is the early resignation of RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki. Commissioner Lucki was under fire for her performance during the Freedom Convoy, as revealed in the Emergencies Act Inquiry. As well, she was featured in some controversial moments in the Mass Casualty Commission in Nova Scotia. I argue that she was made a scapegoat in that scenario. The next Commissioner is going to have a difficult job to do, potentially being tasked with a re-imagining of the RCMP as an entity. The NS Court of Appeal released their decision on the Crown appeal of the acquittal of Colin Tweedie regarding the death of a young girl he struck with his car near Sydney. The Court said that the trial judge failed to apply the proper laws on impaired driving, and also failed to consider the issue of willful blindness as to whether he had struck a person rather than a deer, as he claimed. In Kentville, two Town Councilors were in court over a property deal on Main Street. One Councilor had bought the property to build apartments, but when constructions deadlines were not met, the Town voted to revert the property back to Town ownership. The Councilor who wanted to develop the property alleged that another Councilor who also owned apartments should not have voted. The NS Supreme Court disagreed. Finally, I review the closing arguments in the William Sandeson jury trial. As I recorded this, the judge was giving the jury instructions before the go off to deliberate. I analyze the closing submissions, and give some predictions for what the jury may decide.