Absolute discharges granted in long-running sealing trial
Last Updated: Friday, March 20, 2009 | 4:01 PM NT
CBC News
After almost 13 years, countless thousands of dollars and numerous court dates, 10 Newfoundland and Labrador sealers were told Friday they will not have criminal records.
The 10 sealers, found guilty in January of illegally selling the pelts of bluebacks — immature hooded seals — to a processing plant, were granted absolute discharges during a court hearing Friday in Corner Brook.
The decision, which means that none of the sealers will be jailed or pay fines, concludes what has been described as one of the longest running trials in Canadian history.
Some 101 sealers were originally charged in a prosecution started after charges were laid in November 1996. Charges were dropped against some sealers, while others pleaded guilty.
The 10 sealers, though, fought the charges vigorously, arguing that prosecution was unfair and politically motivated.
The court was told that the sealers had contacted the Department of Fisheries and Oceans during that 1996 season's hunt, and that they had permission from a DFO official to hunt the seals in question.
The sealers told the court that DFO even offered assistance to find the bluebacks.
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