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DeVries set to make a deal in drugs, sex case
Chief Justice calls process 'worst waste of court time I have yet to see'Casey Lessard Northern News Services Published Wednesday, December 7, 2011
"This is the worst waste of court time I have yet to see," said Kilpatrick, who has spent 12 years as a judge in Nunavut. The head of the Qikiqtani Compassion Club, which sold marijuana for medicinal use, deVries, 53, was arrested by RCMP in January 2010. After additional charges were brought forward in August, he now faces 46 charges, including 10 counts of drug possession, one of drug trafficking, five of property obtained through crime, one of trafficking of property obtained through crime, one count of child pornography, eight counts of sexual interference with a minor, two of sexual exploitation, and 14 sexual assault charges. The judge unleashed his tirade after Crowe, speaking by telephone, asked the court for more time to discuss the case with the Crown, represented in court by John Solski. The prosecutor said he understood they were only there to ask that all matters be delayed until Jan. 17 to have time to deal with defence applications for the release of funds to pay for lawyers, and for a delay motion. Kilpatrick pointed out that the court has been dealing with this case since 2010, and that new charges from August 2011 – most of the sexual charges – have not been addressed despite "three or four" appearances. He demanded a Crown election, which informs the court how the Crown wants to proceed. "In principle, he would plead guilty to the allegations," Crowe told the court, adding that her client would want a deal for pleading guilty to some of the 22 latest charges. Negotiations for such a deal were still happening, hence the motion to delay, she said. "You could have brought your delay motion forward in March," Kilpatrick responded, "and you wait until the 11th hour. You're not going to waste the court's precious time." Ordering the lawyers to have a Crown election ready at the next appearance Jan. 10, he scolded them, saying, "It is not sufficient to say it is under discussion. There's an obligation on Crown and defence to let the court know. We are full to bursting at the BCC (Baffin Correctional Centre) and I cannot afford to lose two weeks of court time." Noting that deVries deserves a fair and expedient trial, Kilpatrick said it would be well into 2012 before another trial date would be available, if needed. RCMP arrested deVries, who unsuccessfully ran for a seat on Iqaluit City Council in December 2010, and another man after the January 2010 raid. At that time, police seized two pounds of marijuana, $7,200 in cash, a GMC Yukon and trafficking materials from two Iqaluit homes. In the process of the seizure, it's alleged they found child pornography. The sexual assault charges date as far back as 2004.
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