Crown will not seek high court appeal in Ray Newman case
The final chapter in court proceedings related to the death of Chrissy Predham Newman has closed, as the Crown has decided not to bring an appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada.
In a statement Friday, the Department of Justice and Public Safety's public prosecutions division announced its decision not to appeal Ray Newman's acquittal.
"The decision not to seek leave to appeal was taken in accordance with the Guide Book of Policies and Procedures for the Conduct of Criminal Prosecutions in Newfoundland and Labrador and involved extensive review of relevant case law, legislation and other authorities," the release said.
"We have consulted with the family of Chrissy Predham Newman throughout what has been a very difficult ordeal for them and again express our condolences and sympathies to them.”
The Newfoundland and Labrador Court of Appeal in early December dismissed the Crown's attempt to overturn a trial judge's decision to dismiss key evidence in the trial of Newman.
Newman was acquitted of second-degree murder in 2012. He had been accused of killing his estranged wife Chrissy Predham Newman in 2007.
During the trial, Justice James Adams excluded a large amount of evidence obtained by the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary, citing a violation of Newman's Charter Rights.
According to Adams, police did not read Newman his rights until a half hour into their interview with him at the station, after having him confirm that he had been at his wife's apartment that morning.
In his 2012 decision, Adams had outlined "egregious, flagrant and deliberate violations of his Charter rights … and the negative impact its admission would have on the repute of the administration of justice."
Predham Newman's family have been outspoken about Newman's acquittal.
Following the appeal dismissal in December, Predham Newman's uncle said all evidence pointed to Newman.
"The police made a big mistake. And it's awful and I don't want to put the blame on anyone, but the police made a big mistake," Bruce Harvey said at the time.