Ontario court of appeal grants 684 application to North Preston man caught up in Ottawa police corruption scandal
Scandal Unveiled: Star Witness in the Juteah Downey Case Caught Lying for Victims’ Service Funds
Ottawa, ON — In a shocking turn of events, newly surfaced evidence has exposed deep-seated corruption within the investigation of the Juteah Downey case, revealing that a star crown witness lied to collect victims’ service funds.
A recorded phone conversation has surfaced, indicating that the star witness in the high-profile case admitted to falsifying evidence. This revelation comes amid a broader scandal involving the lead investigator, who has since resigned under allegations of corruption in a separate nationally publicized RCMP investigation. The Ottawa police officer in charge of the Downey case was reportedly involved and charged with multiple breach of trust charges throughout the city and another officer had a sexual relationship with a co-accused, along with several other officers were implicated in inappropriate sexual conduct with witnesses at the very house they were investigating.
The star witness, in a sworn affidavit, confessed to distorting her testimony to appease the investigators and secure victims’ service funds. This admission casts a shadow over the entire investigation and raises questions about the integrity of the case.
In another twist, a co-accused witness provided a sworn affidavit to an Ottawa lawyer, stating she had handed over her cellphone and password to the investigative police force. This directly contradicts the police’s claims in court that the iPhone was locked and inaccessible, potentially pointing to further mishandling or deliberate obfuscation of evidence.
The accused in the Juteah Downey case was sentenced to 15 years in prison for human trafficking but is currently appealing the verdict. The newly appointed trial judge, Narissa Somji, has refused to permit the court to examine third-party disclosures, stating that information from the professional police standards investigation would be irrelevant to the case.
This development has sparked outrage and calls for a thorough re-examination of the investigation and the trial process. Legal experts argue that the integrity of the entire judicial process has been compromised, and the accused’s appeal may now have a significant chance of success given the new evidence.
As the scandal unfolds, public trust in the Ottawa Police Service and the judicial system hangs in the balance. The case is a stark reminder of the importance of transparency and accountability in law enforcement and the justice system.