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THE
EVIDENCE
In
the aftermath of the original fifth estate story
Richard Klassen continued to unearth information
about exactly how the justice system could have
failed him and his family.
Crown
Prosecutor Agrees to Testify at Civil Trial
Terry Hinz claims he will
tell all at the upcoming trial. |
In
the summer of 2001 Richard Klassen says he spoke
with Terry Hinz, a senior prosecutor in the Crown
Attorney's office in Saskatoon. Klassen says Hinz
told him that he was the first prosecutor to receive
the file alleging sex abuse against the Klassen
foster families. According to Klassen, Hinz read
the file and believed the allegations had no merit.
The Saskatchewan government has prevented Hinz from
talking publicly about what happened but he did
confirm to the fifth estate he would tell "the
truth" when the Klassen lawsuit comes to court.
New
Documents Revealed
Prosecutor Matt Miazga talks
to the press. |
Richard
Klassen has obtained new documents from the files
of the Saskatchewan justice department which he
says provide conclusive evidence that crown prosecutors
had serious doubts about the case for a long time.
For example, one briefing
note advises crown prosecutor Matt Miazga to
tell the public that the reason they were staying
the charges was because the evidence was weak. Instead
Matt Miazga was quoted publicly as saying the children
were too traumatized to continue to testify.
Another memo
raises the spectre of a "disastrous acquittal"
if one of the cases proceeded to trial. In another
instance crown prosecutors raise concerns that Kathy
Ross had obviously
lied to investigators and that Michelle had
recanted
key parts of her story.
The family sued for malicious prosection and has
now been awarded $10 by a Saskatchewan court. (Read
more)
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