MONTREAL – The Crown in Quebec said it won’t appeal a judge’s decision to end a murder trial for five Hells Angels after prosecutors failed to disclose key evidence in a timely manner.
Prosecutor Annick Murphy said the Crown studied Superior Court Justice James Brunton’s ruling and a committee recommended the Crown not appeal.
Brunton ordered the five men released as he granted a defence motion for a stay of proceedings because evidence they’d sought since 2011 was divulged only in September.
Murphy said her office will launch an internal investigation of why it took so long to hand over the evidence.
She said a separate committee will also study the concept of mega-trials and how they are managed.
Murphy noted the 2009 police sweep against the Hells Angels, dubbed Operation SharQc, has resulted in 104 convictions with sentences ranging from five years to life in prison.
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