Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - August 12, 2006, Winnipeg, Manitoba top news Winnipeg free press saturday August 12, 2006 a5 police chief should resign Driskell Swatski kept vital information confidential lawyer says by Nick Martin a frustrated James Driskell told reporters yesterday that there is Only one thing he wants to hear from police chief Jack Swatski at the inquiry into Driskell a wrongful conviction for murder ? a statement of resignation. He should to be chief of police Driskell told reporters yesterday after his lawyer James Lockyer claimed repeatedly that Swatski kept information confidential for a decade that could have freed Driskell from prison. Driskell said it was frustrating to i wish i could sit for two Days and listen to be More Swatski insist specific. I do that his 1993 review of the not have a Perry Dean hard specific or murder had not recollection uncovered any new evidence that of going would help through things Driskell. Swatski insist Point by pointed again yester Day that the ? police chief Crown knew Jack Swatski everything police knew. What a been described As new Evi Dence is evidence we believe was in the hands of the Crown Swatski told the inquiry. Swatski and Bob Hall then both inspectors conducted an internal review in 1993 into police handling of the 1991 harder murder investigation. Their report was not made Public until 2003. Driskell spent 12 years behind bars for harder a murder always maintain ing his innocence. Driskell a conviction was quashed by the Federal Justice department last year after Dan tests proved hairs used to convict him were not harder a. Lockyer said that Swatski a own Tes Timony shows that the police did not Tell the Crown extensive details about the Deal with key witness Ray Janidean for immunity on an arson charge and other compensation in return for his testimony. Police also did not Tell the Crown about Janidean lying at Driskell a trial and threats by Janidean and witness John Gumieny to recant their testimony Lockyer said. Replied Swatski i did to agree they were All new evidence. The review concluded that All the information gathered by Winnipeg police had been forwarded to the that was patently untrue sir lock yer told Swatski. I a bewildered by your answer. Chief Swatski this does to make you look Good Lockyer said. Swatski said he met Only once in 1993 with murder trial Crown attorneys George Dangerfield and Greg Lawlor who said they were unaware of any Deal for Janidean. Swatski could not remember if he told the crowns that both City police and ramp had said there was an immunity Deal. Its inconceivable you would to have said something Lockyer said. I wish i could be More specific. I do not have a specific recollection of going through things Point by Point Swatski said. Swatski said repeatedly that it is not the police a Job to give information directly to the defence. That a the crowns Job he said. No attorney general or senior official in the Justice department asked for the review report Between 1993 and 2003, Swatski said. Had Manitoba Justice asked for information from the police that the province did not have we certainly would have complied with Lockyer pointed out that then Federal Justice minister Irwin Cotler last year called the failure to make the 1993 report Public a serious breach of the constitutional duty to but said Swatski it is the role of the Crown attorney to disclose that information to the defence not the Swatski acknowledged that he and Hall did not interview Greg Brodsky Driskell a trial lawyer. That want part of our review he said. Brodsky earlier testified that the Crown failed to disclose a wide Range of evidence that would have helped him defend Driskell at his murder trial and at the Appeal which Driskell subsequently lost. Swatski who is not available next week is expected to resume his Testi Mony in mid september. The inquiry continues monday with Dangerfield on the witness stand. Gimli fish fresh wild Sockeye Salmon skewers 2for $5 smoked Gold Eye 2 for $5 fresh Small 596 Dufferin ave. ? 589-3474 625 Pembina Hwy. ? 477-6831 Independent living resource centres 22nd annual general meeting wednesday september 13, 2006 @ Ilsc 311a-393 Portage ave. 6 30 pm registration 7 00 pm general meeting 8 00-9 00 pm refreshments Gimli fish breaded Calamari oven ready 1lb. $6 596 Dufferin ave. ? 589-3474 625 Pembina Hwy. ? 477-6831 ;