This story has been updated to include the response from the Public Prosecution Service of Canada office in Edmonton.
Steve Norn, the former MLA for Tu Nedhe-Willideh, had his assault charge dropped on Friday in Territorial Court.
Norn was accused of assaulting a ground crew worker after arriving at Yellowknife Airport on an Air Canada flight upon leaving the plane on Nov. 26, 2022.
The original charge was laid Jan. 9 and Norn made an initial appearance in court on Jan. 24.
On that day, Jay Bran, NornSA国际影视传媒檚 lawyer, said that the alleged incident was SA国际影视传媒渕inor in natureSA国际影视传媒� and confidently stated before Judge Robert J. Lane that the video evidence, once analyzed by the Crown, would be convincing enough for authorities to drop the charge.
Bran had not seen the video when he made that claim. They would appear in court on a later date to give the Crown time to view the evidence.
Jacqueline Halliburn, who represented the Crown, said on Friday that the office in Edmonton made the decision to drop the charge.
SA国际影视传媒淚t was on their instructions that we entered a stay of proceedings in court today,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淣o one in our office, including myself, has seen any of the evidence or disclosure with relation to this matter.SA国际影视传媒�
Halliburn said that the office in Yellowknife had a conflict of interest in the matter, hence the involvement of the office in Edmonton.
Erin Eacott, deputy chief federal prosecutor at the office in Edmonton, explained why the Crown dropped the charge.
SA国际影视传媒�(The charge was) stayed after PPSC (Public Prosecution Service of Canada) reviewed all of the evidence and determined that there was no longer sufficient evidence for a reasonable prospect of conviction,SA国际影视传媒� she said.
When asked if the evidence included a video, she said that she could not comment.
SA国际影视传媒淭he evidence that isnSA国际影视传媒檛 on the public record, I canSA国际影视传媒檛 talk about what that evidence is,SA国际影视传媒� she said.
Norn declined to comment on the matter, but Bran made a statement on his behalf.
SA国际影视传媒淢y client is relieved that the prosecution has ended and he is looking forward to continuing with his life now that this is behind him,SA国际影视传媒� he said.
