Parasiris Granted Bail

The Montreal man who killed a police officer who broke into his house during a 5am drug raid has been granted bail. It's believed to be the first time in Canadian history that someone accused of murdering a police officer has been granted bail. It's a notable ruling, and indicates that Parasiris, who claims he thought the invading officers were criminals, has a strong case.

The judge also ruled that police weren't justified in using a battering ram to enter Parasiris' home, and that the warrant didn't give them permission to enter at night.

Comments

g | April 24, 2007, 11:43am | #

wait, what's this? Is that...fairness...in a trial that involves a cop? Like, presumption of innocence and everything?

There's something un-American going on up in Canada...

Ashish George | April 24, 2007, 11:47am | #

Indeed, g. Indeed.

Related link for the day:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nkPb4s0-QcI

Marc | April 24, 2007, 11:59am | #

First Rush, now this. Like, one more thing, and it's enough reason to emigrate.

Isaac Bartram | April 24, 2007, 12:00pm | #

The last offence to carry the death penalty in Canada was the murder of a police officer.

Given Canadians' general deference to authority the reluctance to grant bail is not surprising.

Dave W. (Emigrant) | April 24, 2007, 12:01pm | #

it's enough reason to emigrate

I was proud to hear the news on the CBC this morning and hoping that Mr. Balko would get to it today.

P Brooks | April 24, 2007, 12:07pm | #

Montana is currently struggling with a revised self-defense law (I have no real grasp of the details); the cops are fighting it, and my suspicion is that they are afraid that a Corey Maye or Parasiris would successfully be able to claim self-defense in one of these situations.

As well they should.

jimmydageek | April 24, 2007, 12:18pm | #

O Canada!

Pro Libertate | April 24, 2007, 1:00pm | #

Um, battering ram? Greek fire is the appropriate response to police using battering rams.

lunchstealer | April 24, 2007, 1:08pm | #

First Rush, now this. Like, one more thing, and it's enough reason to emigrate.

Ah ah ah! Bilingualism, people! That should be:

"First Rush, now this. Like, one more thing, and it's enough reason to emigrate.

Première Précipitation, maintenant ceci. Comme, une plus de chose, et lui est assez de raison d'émigrer."

-lunchstealer/voleur des déjeuners

Rex Rhino | April 24, 2007, 3:04pm | #

He is only getting off so easy because it was a drug raid. If the SWAT team had raided his house because they suspected him of speaking English, the government of Quebec would have had him drawn and quartered without trial.

LarryA | April 24, 2007, 4:55pm | #

In other news: Hell has frozen over.

Thomas Paine's Goiter | April 24, 2007, 4:59pm | #

With the judge's ruling on the warrant and entry, is there a possibility of charges against the police?

Nathan | April 24, 2007, 6:37pm | #

With the judge's ruling on the warrant and entry, is there a possibility of charges against the police?

It's possible, but unless the police officers knew, or were reckless, that the warrant did not authorize their actions, it's unlikely that the Crown could secure a conviction against the police. If the police thought their actions were justified by the warrant they would not be criminally liable.

So based on what we know now, there probably isn't enough evidence to bring charges against any of the police officers.