Sunday May 19, 2013




Defence gets more time for disclosure in Canadian navy officer spy case


Sub.-Lt. Jeffrey Paul Delisle arrives at provincial court in Halifax on Wednesday, July 4, 2012. The Canadian navy intelligence officer, charged with communicating information to a foreign entity, faces charges under the Security of Information Act. The case has been set over until July 17 for election and plea. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan

HALIFAX - The case of a Canadian navy intelligence officer accused of spying has been set over until July 17.

The lawyer for Sub-Lt. Jeffrey Paul Delisle made a brief appearance in provincial court in Halifax on Wednesday to ask for more time to go over material that had just been disclosed by the Crown.

Mike Taylor said he received a lengthy document last Friday that relates to a search warrant and needed to review it before proceeding with the case.

"I need a chance to look at those and talk to Mr. Delisle about them and decide what we're going to do next," he said outside court.

"I know it's taking a while and there are a number of agencies that look at it and provide their opinions. ... It's just extremely time consuming."

Delisle did not appear in court.

Delisle faces two charges under the Security of Information Act that deal with communicating information that could harm Canada's interests.

He was denied bail in March and has been in custody at the Central Nova Scotia Correctional Facility since his arrest in January.

Taylor said his client is in a "holding pattern" after having the case adjourned numerous times already for disclosure reasons.

"He's patient and he knows it takes a long time to get to the point where we can make an actual decision and he wants to make sure it's done right," Taylor said.

Taylor said he could elect to keep the case in provincial court, where a plea would then be entered. Or he could choose to move it to the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia.

A broad publication ban was ordered covering evidence presented at his bail hearing.

Taylor said much of the material released by the Crown has been redacted and he might challenge that in future proceedings.


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