Sask. police officer on trial for negligence over in-custody death has charges stayed
A Saskatchewan police officer who faced criminal charges in connection with a man’s in-custody death will not be going to trial — the Crown has opted to stay the charges.
Thirty-three-year-old Saul Laliberte was found unresponsive in his cell in the Prince Albert police detention on November 7, 2021. A paramedic on shift provided care prior to the arrival of an ambulance. He was pronounced dead at Victoria Hospital.
The officer responsible for his care, Sgt. Tyson Morash, was charged with criminal negligence causing death and failing to provide the necessities of life two years later, based on a recommendation from the Crown.
In an email on Monday, a Ministry of Justice spokesperson told CTV News the Crown has opted to stay the charges after a period of review.
“To move forward with a prosecution, Public Prosecutions must be satisfied that there is a reasonable likelihood of conviction and that it is in the public interest to continue with a prosecution,” the ministry said.
“After careful consideration, it was determined this case no longer met the prosecution standard. Given this assessment, the prosecutor directed a stay of proceedings.”
The Crown has the option of resuming the criminal proceedings within a one-year window, after which the charges are effectively dropped.
Morash’s charges came at a time when policing in Prince Albert was under heavy scrutiny. The Ministry of Justice hired a third-party consultant to review the police service’s processes amidst growing public outrage and allegations of misconduct.
A damning report released earlier that year found two officers failed to adequately protect an infant boy who later died, and should face discipline. Former Police Chief Jonathan Bergen resigned the same day the report was released.
Now, with the charges stayed, Laliberte’s mother, Amelia Bloomfield, may never get the chance to hear the details that led to her son's death.
Police say Laliberte was in custody after turning himself in for several outstanding warrants
-With files from Laura Woodward
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