Crockwell says the system is at fault
Leo Crockwell knows a lot of people think he’s trying to fool the system by not showing up to court.
But it’s the justice system that’s actually wrong in this case, he says.
“People should know the facts,” Crockwell told The Telegram during a phone call Wednesday. “They should know the truth.”
The truth, he said, is that the charge against him, stated in provincial court documents, is unfounded.
Crockwell — who made national headlines in 2010 when he slipped past police in a standoff at his Bay Bulls home — is charged with breaching a probation order.
Court documents state that, “between June 15, 2014, and June 26, 2014, at or near St. John’s, (Crockwell) did without reasonable excuse, while bound by a probation order issued in the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador on June 1, 2012, failed to comply with said order thereby committing an offence. ...”
The problem is, Crockwell said, he wasn’t issued a probation order on June 1, 2012. That was when he was convicted of the firearms charges as a result of the eight-day standoff.
The probation order wasn’t issued until Feb. 15, 2013, when he was sentenced and the judge gave him a global sentence of four years in jail, with three years’ probation.
His trial was supposed to start March 2 in provincial court, but it was set over to March 28 when Crockwell was a no-show. When he didn’t show up the second time, the judge issued an arrest warrant.
But Crockwell said there’s no grounds for police to arrest him, since the charge is unfounded.
“The arrest warrant for the probation order doesn’t exist, so they can’t commence proceedings,” Crockwell said. “They can’t put out an arrest warrant … It’s a farce.”
When asked why he won’t come to court to straighten out the issue, he replied, “I don’t have to. Provincial court doesn’t have the jurisdiction in this case.”
He went on to say, “This is a planned wrongful conviction.”
He said he doesn’t trust anyone in the justice system, and it’s time the Crown realizes it’s wrong.
“This has been going on too long,” the 60-year-old said.
Crown prosecutor Elizabeth Ivany opted not to discuss the case.
RCMP Corp. Danny Williams of the Ferryland detachment said he couldn’t get into the specifics of the case.
He said they’re waiting on the original documents from court before making any decisions on how they will proceed.
“We have to review all the details before assuming anything,” said Williams, who admitted officers have to exercise caution in the case.
“There are procedures that have to be followed, but we need all the information first.”