A pedestrian walks past the Supreme Court of Canada in Ottawa on June 11, 2012. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
July 06, 2012 - 10:58 AM
OTTAWA - The Supreme Court of Canada has restored a conviction against a cocaine dealer in a Montreal drug case, but upheld two acquittals he won at the Court of Appeal.
The justices are using the 7-0 ruling to give some guidance to lower courts on what constitutes a criminal organization.
Carmelo Venneri was convicted of eight offences, including two organized crime counts and possession of cocaine for trafficking.
The Quebec Court of Appeal overturned those three counts.
The Supreme Court reversed one of the organized crime acquittals, saying Venneri may not have been a formal member of the drug ring, but was acting in association with the group.
Justice Morris Fish says courts have to take a flexible approach in defining what constitutes a criminal organization.
News from © The Canadian Press, 2012