The case against a man charged with murdering an Aboriginal woman from Saskatoon in 2004 took yet another turn this week.
Thirty-five-year-old Douglas Hales was charged with first-degree murder in 2008 in the death of twenty-six-year-old Daleen Bosse but the case has yet to go to trial and Hales has been through six lawyers.
Regina lawyer Bob Hrycan is Hales’ latest legal representative and he says unless the government provides his client with proper eyewear and a personal computer to review evidence in the case, the charges should be stayed.
“He’s entitled, as remarkable as this may sound to some people, but he’s actually entitled to be able to read the documents that are introduced in evidence against him, he’s entitled to be able to see clearly the witnesses testifying against him, he’s entitled to hear clearly what they have to say,” he says.
Hrycan says his client is legally blind and as of yet Saskatchewan Justice has failed to provide him with proper prescription eyeglasses so he can review evidence.
He adds Hales also needs a personal computer to wade through this evidence, most of which is digitized.
The Regina lawyer says corrections services did bring in an optometrist to see Hales, who is legally blind, a year ago but the wrong eyewear was prescribed and the situation has not been rectified since.
Overall, regardless of the charges against his client and any previous delays in the case going to trial, Hrycan says Hales is entitled to a fair trial where his rights are properly represented.
Daleen Bosse, 26, went missing in 2004 and her remains were found in a secluded area about 20 kilometres north of Saskatoon in 2008.
Hales was charged with murder soon after as well as offering an indignity to human remains.
Hrycan is also asking court services to fund a junior counsel to assist him on the case, a request that has so far been denied.
The four-week trial is tentatively scheduled to go ahead in May of next year.