SAINT JOHN – A Saint John police officer’s trial for assault and making threats will not proceed.
Const. Chris Messer was facing a new trial on the charges after his previous conviction was struck down by the Court of Appeal.
Messer’s lawyer Brian Munro told reporters Tuesday the charges had been stayed, which means the court will no longer proceed.
“As far as I’m concerned, it should end it. It should’ve ended a long time ago,” Munro said. “Now the Crown will obviously have the right to appeal the decision. I don’t know if they intend to do that but I’ll be surprised if they did.”
The charges stemmed from complaints made by two people, alleging Messer had assaulted them. Messer suspected the people had been involved in a drive-by shooting of his Saint John home in September, 2010.
“There’s some closure today,” Messer said.
“But there’s a lot of tough, tough questions that are going to have to be answered by people in regards to this matter that’s gone on for four and a half years. I guess that process can start now.
“I haven’t been able to speak publicly to anybody for four and a half years and it’s just been terrible for my family.”
A publication ban on the judge’s decision has been put in place.
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