This year, Halifax is alight with junior hockey excitement. For the second time in the Halifax Mooseheads’ history, the Memorial Cup—Canada’s nationwide junior hockey championship—will be played right here, at the Scotiabank Centre in May. The team is also celebrating its 25th anniversary this season, as the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League commemorates its own […]
Courts
Posted inNews + Opinion
No closure in Randy Riley murder trial
As Randy Riley got up to exit the courtroom for the last time in his first-degree murder trial, he blew a kiss to his aunt, who blew a kiss back. Moments before, he had been convicted of second-degree murder. Riley, 27, was charged in 2013 with the shooting death of Chad Smith, who was killed […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Witness credibility on trial during murder case
Closing arguments have finished and the jury now deliberates in a first-degree murder trial where witness credibility has become a central issue. The Crown began its closing argument against Randy Riley on Thursday by telling jury members that one key witness, Paul Smith, told them “everything you need to know.” Riley, 27, is charged with […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
New trial ordered for cab driver Bassam al-Rawi
The Halifax taxi driver acquitted on all charges of sexually assaulting an intoxicated passenger in the back of his cab will face a new trial. A decision released Wednesday by the Nova Scotia Court of Appeal found that Judge Gregory Lenehan “misdirected himself as to the legal meaning of consent” in his ruling last March. […]
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Today I saw justice, if only for a moment
Today I watched a young woman show up, prepared to testify about the atrocities that have happened at the hands of trash bags, abusers, modern day slave traders. Today I watched as a brave young woman stepped forward to speak out about Halifax’s “dirty little secret.” Today I saw this same woman prepare to stand […]
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Sandeson murder case almost derailed over mistrial

The first-degree murder trial of medical student William Sandeson was almost thrown out by the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia six weeks into proceedings. Sandeson is accused of murdering 22-year-old Taylor Samson during a drug deal involving 20-pounds of marijuana the night of August 15, 2015. Samson’s body has yet to be found. The Crown […]
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Finding Taylor Samson
Since the day he went missing, Linda Boutilier hasn’t stopped looking for her boy. On a rainy Mother’s Day last Sunday, Taylor Samson’s mom, brother Connor and best friend, Thomas McCrossin, have met to reminisce about the 22-year-old whose death is all the city can seem to talk about. William Sandeson, a 24-year-old Dalhousie medical […]
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Canadian Bar Association asks public to cool it with the name-calling
The Nova Scotia branch of the national Canadian Bar Association is condemning some of the emotionally-charged comments and commentary that have been voiced against judge Gregory Lenehan. Debate and complaints made in the proper channels are important features of the justice system that can lead to positive change, writes CBA-NS executive director Tina Tucker in a […]
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Halifax argues against proposed Africville class action
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A Nova Scotia Supreme Court Justice has reserved his decision on whether a lawsuit against the Halifax Regional Municipality by the former residents of Africville will go ahead as a class action. Robert Pineo, the legal representative of Nelson Carvery and other members of the historic black community, argued in front of a packed courtroom […]
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Saunders family grieves as inquiry continues
[Image-1] Loretta Saunders’ death six months ago was still fresh for her grieving family as they attended the inquiry into her murder this week. After justice Anne Derrick called a recess Wednesday, there was an outburst in the court. In an apparent reaction to evidence, one of Saunders’ uncles stood up and made a move […]
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Abandon all cash
To the editor, There should be a sign above the door leading into courtroom #2 in the courthouse on Spring Garden that reads “Abandon hope, all ye who enter here.” In this courtroom, cases on minor vehicle and lowly parking-ticket violations are heard. Have you contested a parking ticket recently? Here’s how it works. You […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Painful insurance rulings
First the good news: Nova Scotia’s car insurance companies are making bags of money thanks to provincial Tories and Liberals. Now the not-so-good news: Nova Scotia drivers are paying hundreds of millions too much for coverage that sucks. Just ask Melissa Gionet. After her car got sideswiped in December 2003, Gionet suffered a banged-up knee […]