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the fifth estate: Scandal of the Century
The Evidence> Printer Version
Broadcast
February 25, 2004
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)
the fifth estate:
Scandal of the Century
Originally Broadcast on January 23, 2002
Updated on Wednesday, February 25, 2004
on CBC-TV at 9PM
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EVIDENCE
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