A majority of the court, four judges in all, decided that Ontario trucker Bradley Barton must face a new trial for manslaughter in her death. The other three judges would also have ordered a trial, but on a charge of murder as well as manslaughter. But the whole court did agree that the justice system failed Gladue badly by not upholding proper procedures around so-called “rape shield” laws. And if one thing comes out loud and clear from the top court’s 91-page ruling, it is this: judges and lawyers need much better training in the laws dealing with sexual assault. Cindy Gladue’s tragic case underscores why that cannot be allowed to happen.

Source: thestar May 26, 2019 10:16 UTC