Editor:
Recently I have found myself concerned about an accused person’s right to the presumption of innocence when charged with an offence.
A friend of mine directed my attention to Section 11(d) of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. This portion of the charter guarantees that “Any person charged with an offence has the right … to be presumed innocent until proven guilty according to law in a fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal.”
After reading the response from Banff council as reported in the March 14, 2024, edition of the Rocky Mountain Outlook, and the subsequent article in the March. 21, 2024, edition of the Rocky Mountain Outlook, which contained excerpts from a letter signed by “A group of about 80 concerned community leaders and residents", I was disheartened by what I have concluded to be an unnecessary withdrawal of support for Coun. Hugh Pettigrew in this difficult time.
Prosecution through local and social media is not the way situations such as this should be handled.
For Mr. Pettigrew, I respect his right to a “presumption of innocence” until proven otherwise.
Les Young,
Banff
