Evelyn Minty, 86, mother of Douglas Minty who was shot dead by Ontario Provincial Police in 2009, is seen in Toronto on Thursday Dec. 19, 2013. The Supreme Court of Canada ruled police involved in shootings cannot have lawyers vet their notes. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Colin Perkel
December 19, 2013 - 1:00 AM
OTTAWA - Canada's top court rules today on whether police officers under investigation by a civilian watchdog can have a lawyer help them prepare their notes.
The case has pitted officers against the families of two men shot dead by Ontario's provincial police in separate incidents in 2009.
The families argued before the Supreme Court that having a lawyer approve the notes that end up in their memo books is unacceptable.
They also said that allowing a single lawyer to act for several officers involved in an incident undermines rules against collusion.
Police argued they have the right to talk to a lawyer of their choosing before finalizing their notes.
In November 2011, Ontario's top court sided with the families.
News from © The Canadian Press, 2013