Petty coke dealer cleared on gun charge over cops' screw up: Judge
A judge recently acquitted a petty cocaine dealer caught in a Scarborough traffic stop of possessing a firearm under his driver’s seat because cops failed to investigate properly. “The police investigation was incomplete in a crucial way,” Justice Timothy Lipson said in clearing Jermaine Barrows-Taylor, 26, of weapons charges last week because the car’s two passengers could have planted the weapon and officers failed to interview them. Officers released two passengers from the car after Barrows-Taylor claimed ownership of the cocaine. Officers took the passengers’ contact info and determined they had no warrants outstanding. PAZZANO: Recent cases highlight failures of revolving door bail system Dozens of retrials could be ordered due to court ruling As a result, the judge concluded the Crown “was unable to negate other reasonable possibilities consistent with the innocence of the accused.” “Justice Lipson came to the right decision,” defence lawyer Arvin Ross said. “If he had found my client guilty … it would have been a miscarriage of justice.”
