The Canadian government has acted in bad faith and has repeatedly refused to disclose information in the case of a man trying to return from the United States to his family in Toronto, reports the Toronto Star. Douglas Gary Freeman fled the US forty years ago after shooting a Chicago police officer in the arm in what he said was a case of self defense.
Freeman lived quietly
He lived quietly raising a family of four in Toronto and worked as a librarian’s assistant. American police requested and obtained his extradition and in February 2008 he pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated battery. He served 30 days in jail, was on probation for two years and was ordered to pay $250,000 to a police charity.
After paying his debt to society, Freeman would like to return to Canada but has been repeatedly barred. A government minister has called him a cop killer which was untrue and called him a member of the Black Panther which Freeman and others have repeatedly denied.
“They labelled this man”
“From the very outset they labelled this man…They know they have no evidence, and yet they persist in refusing,” lawyer Barbara Jackman told the court as reported by the Star.
Justice Anne Mactavish is conducting a judicial review of the government’s refusal to let Freeman re-enter Canada.
Canadian government lawyers argued they are not separating Freeman from his wife, four adult children and grandchildren in the Toronto area, reports the Star.
“They (the family) can move”
“They can move,” lawyer Alexis Singer argued. “They can visit him.”
Jackman accused former Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Jason Kenney of smearing Freeman as a terrorist when there is no evidence of that.
Justice Mactavish said she would render a decision as soon as possible.
Freeman has the support of Opposition Leader Thomas Mulcair who met with him and his wife last spring in Washington, D.C. where Freeman now lives, while his wife visits as often as possible.
See earlier interview with Freeman and CBC reporter.
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