Letters to be examined in Chalfoun trial

A judge has ruled that portions of 24 letters submitted as evidence may be made public during the trial of former provincial corrections employee Marlne Chalfoun.

In a decision handed down Friday, Quebec Court Justice Micheline Corbeil-Larame rejected requests to prevent the contents of the letters from being made public.

Chalfoun's lawyer wanted an outright publication ban on all the letters in question.

Although the judge didn't grant that request, she did hand down a second ruling which bans the publication of evidence containing a reference to the alleged co-conspirator, Angelo Colalillo, 38.

The judge says any evidence which would refer to the alleged co-conspirator in the case cannot be publicized because it would compromise his right to a fair trial.

Colalillo's lawyer, Marc Labelle, says the evidence presented at Chalfoun's trial must not taint the jury candidates for Colalillo's eventual trial. Colalillo is also accused in the murder of three people, including two children in Montreal over the last nine years.

Prosecutors say the letters were written by Chalfoun, 36, and sent to her alleged two co-conspirators, Colalillo and Nick Paccione. Police allege Chalfoun conspired with the two men, both repeat sex offenders, to commit aggravated sexual assault against three people close to her.

Prosecutors say the letters are key evidence in Chalfoun's trial on the charge of conspiracy to commit aggravated sexual assault.

Chalfoun's lawyers argued only parts of the letters should be admissible and allowing the rest to become public would damage her reputation. They said the private, intimate parts are like diary entries belonging only to her.

Now, the letters will be examined one by one, to determine their pertinence in Chalfoun's conspiracy case.