Ahenakew Hate Crime Conviction Overturned

Ahenakew Hate Crime Conviction Overturned

Thursday, June 08, 2006 at 15:50

A Court of Queen’s Bench justice in Saskatchewan has ruled a lower court judge made errors in convicting former native leader David Ahenakew of wilfully promoting hatred.

The one-time head of the Assembly of First Nations was fined $1,000 for making disparaging remarks about Jews to a newspaper reporter in December 2002.

Ahenakew’s lawyer appealed his client’s conviction, arguing that the reporter set up Ahenakew to make those statements.

At issue is whether Ahenakew knew he was being interviewed and that his remarks would be published.

Another trial has been ordered.