[VIDEOs] – The Lyle Howe Legal Odyssey
Former Halifax lawyer Lyle Howe says he was investigated by the Nova Scotia Barrister’s Society in 2011 by way of a practice review. Then, in 2014 Howe was convicted of sexual assault before then having that conviction overturned. Howe was initially suspended following the criminal conviction but went back to practicing law once the conviction was overturned. It was then, Howe says, that the Society laid their own set of serious charges against him and Howe was suspended a second time. Howe attempted to sue the society over that decision, but his lawsuit was initially dismissed. Recently, the Nova Scotia Court of Appeal overturned that decision, meaning Howe can proceed with his lawsuit. Howe said that the legal professionals who he said acted against him in bad faith will now be compelled to testify under oath by way of the discovery process in his lawsuit. In an interview with Community Update, Howe says it was the Society’s intention to collect as much evidence as they could to use it against him. Howe, who is Black, says he has evidence and transcripts that demonstrate he was singled out and targeted by former members of the Nova Scotia Barrister’s Society and by current members of the legal community because of his race. When giving examples, Howe says he was accused of double booking himself in court, a something he says is a common and accepted practice among all lawyers in the local legal community. “I’m literally the only person that’s been charged with it in Nova Scotia.” Speaking with Community Update, Howe also talked about the nature of systemic racism in the legal and justice system in Nova Scotia, he names specific names of people he’s dealt with who, through his experience, he feels are guilty of upholding the system of racism and white supremacy, and he talked about some things he feels need to happen to build on improvements he feels are in fact taking place.
Halifax appoints first Black police chief: Don MacLean
Halifax Regional Council approved the recommendation by the Board of Police Commissioners to appoint Don MacLean as the Acting Chief of Police. MacLean, who is currently Deputy Chief of Operations, assumes the position on Sept. 16 following the retirement of Chief Dan Kinsella on Sept. 15.
(Sept 12-28) Black Justice Strategy Community Engagement Sessions
Canada’s Black Justice Strategy Community Engagement Sessions – Hosted By ANSJI The African Nova Scotian Justice Institute is leading public engagement sessions across Nova Scotia to inform the development of […]
Police lay charges in homicide of Davelle Rodney Vance Desmond
Police have laid charges in the homicide of Davelle Rodney Vance Desmond that occurred earlier this month in Halifax.
On August 6 at approximately 9:40 p.m., police received a report of a disturbance that had occurred on the Halifax waterfront in the area of the 1500 block of Lower Water Street. Officers located an unresponsive man on the boardwalk. The victim was transported to hospital where he later died.
Halifax police release use of force policy, three years after request from oversight board [VIDEO]
Two years after a confrontation with protesters ended with angry shoving, pepper spray and almost two dozen arrests, Halifax Regional Police finally released its policy on use of force.
It comes as an external review by a Toronto law firm is underway into police action during a protest on Spring Garden Road in August 2021, when hundreds of people tried to stop police and city workers from removing shelters used by homeless people.
Awareness Walk for Devon Marsman (Oct. 7, 2023) — missing since Feb. 2022
On October 7th, Devon’s 18th birthday, his family will be hosting a march at the basketball courts on the corner of Romans and Federal Avenue. PLEASE join them from 12 noon to 2pm to celebrate Devon and continue the fight for justice and to find him. THEY NEED YOUR SUPPORT! Let’s make some noise for Devon on his birthday and show Halifax how much we care about this young man and his family.
Death of 26-year-old father-to-be ruled a homicide, girlfriend speaks out, says attack was random
The death of a 26-year-old Halifax man last weekend has been ruled a homicide, police say.
In a news release on Wednesday, Halifax Regional Police identified the victim as Davelle Rodney Vance Desmond.
Black man threatened at gunpoint by Halifax cop in 2021 sues HRM
A Black man threatened at gunpoint by police on video in 2021 is suing the municipality, alleging the officer discriminated upon him, assaulted him, and violated his Charter rights.
Full article available @: Halifax Examiner (HalifaxExaminer.ca)
Halifax constable referred to restorative justice for 2020 assault on Black teen [VIDEO]
Const. Mark Pierce, the Halifax Regional Police officer charged with assaulting a 15-year-old Black boy outside of a mall in Bedford in February 2020, came face to face last week with the youth and his parents for the first time since the night of the incident.
Demario Chambers, now 19 years old, said he received a concussion, cuts, bruises, and badly hurt finger at the hands of Pierce and his partner Const. Craig Trudel when they arrested him.
They released Chambers without charges to his parents later that night.
Borden’s lawyer, board chair debate line of questioning around systemic racism during constable’s testimony
Andrew Gough, the lawyer representing the Halifax Regional Police, openly scoffed and laughed at the notion that the denial of systemic racism within the HRP by one of its officers would be evidence, in of itself, of systemic racism within the force.