A former RCMP inspector – who helped develop the so-called Mr. Big investigative tactic – says he knew John Nuttall and Amanda Korody would be set free.
Al Haslett is slamming the force’s use of it in the terror probe against the pair.
“They had people with no experience, no expertise in this type of police work at all, this technique. And as a result this is what they got.”
Justice Catherine Bruce overturned the couple’s conviction, ruling they were entrapped by the RCMP.
She said Nuttall and Korody could never have planned, let alone execute such an attack without the help and coercion of undercover officers.
READ MORE: RCMP spent almost $1 million in overtime on undercover anti-terrorism operation
“Once it was determined that their state of mind wasn’t sufficient to carry on, the undercover operation should’ve been stopped immediately,” Haslett said.
Micheal Vonn, policy director with the BC Civil Liberties Association, says the operation crossed a line.
“Everyone acknowledges security is very difficult to get right but where you have extraordinary powers you need extraordinary wisdom you need oversight, you need checks and balances,” Vonn said.
She says people have to be very vulnerable to fall for this tactic given how well it is known.
READ MORE: Nuttall and Korody back in Victoria following release
But despite the failed sting, Haslett thinks Mr. Big operations still play a vital role in investigative work, particularly in cold cases.
“If you look through all the cases over the years, we’ve done a high number of people that are not vulnerable. We have a high number that are sophisticated killers.”
He believes the tactic he co-founded has helped put almost 500 killers behind bars who might otherwise go free.
He said that if done properly, Mr. Big will help convict again.
–With files from Ted Chernecki