Rick Dean
Registered
http://www.canoe.ca/NewsStand/TorontoSun/N.../10/492894.html
Hate crime charge laid <_<
A-G APPROVES RARE PROSECUTION
THREE TEENS accused of toppling Jewish gravestones and vandalizing Jewish buildings in North York were charged yesterday under hate crimes legislation. Ontario Attorney General Michael Bryant said he gave prosecutors permission to take the rare step yesterday in order to stress the seriousness of t
e crimes.
"The fact that we are laying this charge, willful promotion of hate, speaks to itself," Bryant said.
"I can tell you it is one of the most serious crimes that we hav
e in our Criminal Code. That's why it requires me to personally consent to the charges being laid."
The charges stem from a trail of vandalism through North York last March, including 27 overturned gravestones at Bathurst Lawn Memorial Pa
rk and smashed windows at the nearby Pride of Israel Synagogue.
Canadian Jewish Federation executive director Bernie Farber said it sends a message that such crimes will be identified as what they are.
"If any crime cried out for hate laws to be applied, this was the one," he said. "It provoked terrible, terrible anger and anxiety in the Jewish community."
Steven Vandermey, 18, and two 15-year-olds facing the new hate crime charges had previously been charged with mischief and property damage to a religious instit
ution.
Hate crime charge laid <_<
A-G APPROVES RARE PROSECUTION
THREE TEENS accused of toppling Jewish gravestones and vandalizing Jewish buildings in North York were charged yesterday under hate crimes legislation. Ontario Attorney General Michael Bryant said he gave prosecutors permission to take the rare step yesterday in order to stress the seriousness of t
e crimes.
"The fact that we are laying this charge, willful promotion of hate, speaks to itself," Bryant said.
"I can tell you it is one of the most serious crimes that we hav
e in our Criminal Code. That's why it requires me to personally consent to the charges being laid."
The charges stem from a trail of vandalism through North York last March, including 27 overturned gravestones at Bathurst Lawn Memorial Pa
rk and smashed windows at the nearby Pride of Israel Synagogue.
Canadian Jewish Federation executive director Bernie Farber said it sends a message that such crimes will be identified as what they are.
"If any crime cried out for hate laws to be applied, this was the one," he said. "It provoked terrible, terrible anger and anxiety in the Jewish community."
Steven Vandermey, 18, and two 15-year-olds facing the new hate crime charges had previously been charged with mischief and property damage to a religious instit
ution.