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Appeals court upholds new trial for Native leader
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Filed Under: First Nations

Saskatchewan's highest court on Monday said disgraced Native leader David Ahenakew deserves a new hate crimes trial.

Ahenakew, 74, a former chief of the Assembly of First Nations, was convicted of spreading hate about Jewish people. He defended the Holocaust and praised Adolf Hitler in remarks that were published in a newspaper.

A judge later overturned the verdict and ordered a new trial. But the provincial government appealed and tried to reinstate the conviction.

The Saskatchewan Court of Appeal, however, said mistakes were made at the trial court. Ahenakew's lawyer said the case should be dropped but Jewish groups are pressing for an appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada.

Get the Story:
Appeal Court upholds new trial for Ahenakew (CBC 1/14)
Sask. appeal court orders new trial for Ahenakew (CTV 1/14)
Jewish groups urge Sask Crown to take David Ahenakew hate case to Supreme Court (CP 1/14)

Court of Appeal Decision:
Queen v. Ahenakew (January 14, 2008)

Queen's Bench Decision:
Ahenakew v. Queen (June 8, 2006)

Lower Court Decision:
The Queen v. Ahenakew (July 8, 2005)

Relevant Links:
Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations - http://www.fsin.com
Canadian Jewish Congress - http://www.cjc.ca

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