All Charges Withdrawn Against Laura Liscio

I am thrilled, but not surprised, that all charges against Laura Liscio were withdrawn yesterday.

I wish to commend her counsel Stephen Bernstein who assisted her in the finest traditions of the Bar. I wish to also commend the Public Prosecutions Service for as expeditiously as possible fully reviewing this matter and coming to the conclusion that they did; that there was no reasonable prospect of conviction. I know there were some legal issues that complicated and slowed down the review. The Service’s dispassionate review highlights the independence of the Crown Bar from the police, an important part of our system of justice.

I have been closely monitoring this case from the outset.

There is no doubt that Ms. Liscio should not have been arrested and handcuffed in her barrister’s gown and walked through the Courthouse. The conduct of the Peel Regional Police was publicly censured and properly so. Their conduct not only directly impacted Ms. Liscio and failed to respect her dignity as an officer of the Court; it was an affront to the administration of justice.

Anthony Moustacalis
President, Criminal Lawyers’ Association