SASKATOON – Accused killer Douglas Hales will be back in a Saskatoon courtroom Monday to find out if a recent ruling on “Mr. Big” sting operations will affect his case.
Hales, who is charged with the first-degree murder of Daleen Bosse, was arrested after RCMP officers posed as members of a criminal organization trying to recruit him in a “Mr. Big” sting operation.
Final arguments have been made in the case and a verdict was expected on Aug. 29.
Monday’s court appearance was ordered after the Supreme Court of Canada ruled on July 31 that confessions extracted through sting operations must be presumed inadmissible in court.
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The court said prosecutors must prove a “Mr. Big” confession is admissible by showing it’s reliable and that it won’t unfairly prejudice a crime suspect during court proceedings.
The Crown must also prove the confession was not obtained via police coercion or was facilitated due to a suspect’s mental health or addiction issues.
Bosse was last seen in May 2004 and her burned remains were found outside of Saskatoon in August 2008.
Hales was arrested on Aug. 10, 2008 and charged with first-degree murder and offering an indignity to a body.
During closing arguments, the Crown argued Hales killed the university student out of rage when she mocked his sexual impotence.
Hales lawyer contended Bosse died of alcohol poisoning and he then burned her body out of panic, believing he would be charged with murder since he provided her with alcohol.
With files from Meaghan Craig and The Canadian Press
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