Ian King

Two things caught my eye in @jonnywakefield’s excellent report: “The trial was delayed for years while Kinney pursued pre-trial applications, including one that argued he was targeted as a critic of then-police chief Dale McFee, now Alberta’s top public servant.” He not only committed the crime, he also smeared the Police Chief along the way. Second, “Kinney was initially scheduled to face a jury trial, but defence counsel @TomEngel dropped the jury last week.” This suggests to me that Kinney had his “Come to Jesus” moment late in the day. I wonder if an absolute or conditional discharge will be sought. I have learned that the best indicator of remorse is an admission and apology at the earliest opportunity. This history is the opposite of that. Why is genuine remorse important? Arbitration jurisprudence states that without genuine remorse, there is little likelihood of reflection and the rehabilitation potential is poor. Lastly, I am grateful for local journalists like Mr. Wakefield. The court beat is a hard one, but it’s important for the community. Support good local journalism and subscribe. It’s not expensive, and it’s important.