Lawyers for the Crown and convicted killer Wade Skiffington wrapped up their bail arguments in Vancouver’s B.C. Supreme Court chambers Friday, giving a judge time to consider whether Skiffington should be granted bail.
The man was found guilty in the 1994 murder of his girlfriend, Wanda Martin, after confessing to the crime in the presence of undercover RCMP officers as part of a Mr. Big scheme.
Hank Reiner, Crown prosecutor, told the Richmond News a bail decision will likely come later this month.
The federal justice minister is reviewing the conviction after an appeal by defence lawyers with Innocence Canada. While that review takes place, Skiffington is applying for bail, his lawyer Philip Campbell arguing he’s not a danger to the public.
Innocence Canada is also challenging the credibility of the undercover sting, saying police extracted a false confession. Reiner, however, referred to previous rulings that have acknowledged the Mr. Big method is an effective investigative technique to charge killers who would not otherwise face justice.
With files from the Canadian Press
