Jim Pankiw has had a drunk driving conviction overturned by Saskatchewan’s Court of Appeal. Pankiw was charged in July 2011 after two breath tests indicated his blood alcohol level was .15 and .14.
He was convicted in January 2014 and given a $1,000 fine and one-year driving suspension.
Pankiw appealed the decision, saying the 27-month delay from the charge being laid to the trial in October 2013 was due to the Crown failing to provide full disclosure.
READ MORE: Judge orders Crown to share reports in ex-MP Jim Pankiw’s drunk driving trial
The Court of Appeal agreed.
In a written decision released Wednesday, the court said 13 to 14 months of the delay in getting to trial was “attributable to the Crown’s failure to disclose.”
“The balance between society’s interest in seeing individuals who drink and drive be brought to trial and Mr. Pankiw’s (Charter) right to trial within a reasonable time is tipped in Mr. Pankiw’s favour.”
Pankiw represented Saskatoon-Humboldt in Parliament for two terms as a Reform and then a Canadian Alliance MP. He also ran unsuccessfully for mayor of Saskatoon.
With files from The Canadian Press
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