A verdict has raised the indignation

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The chief of the Assembly of First Nations, Perry Bellegarde, was denounced, on Saturday, the racism that underlies the canadian judicial system.

QMI agency

Saturday, 10 February 2018 13:52

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Saturday, 10 February, 2018 14:08

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REGINA – in The aftermath of the acquittal of a farmer from Saskatchewan accused of the murder of an aboriginal person, the chief of the Assembly of First Nations, Perry Bellegarde, was denounced, on Saturday, the racism that underlies the canadian judicial system. He appealed to the government authorities for the institution to be reformed.

A jury found Gerald Stanley, 56, not guilty of second degree murder of Colten Boushie, a Cri of 22 years of the First Nation Red Pheasant, Friday.

The young man was shot and killed in August 2016, while he was sitting on the driver’s seat of a car on the farm of the accused, near Biggar, Saskatchewan, according to Global News. The defence argued that the farmer did not press the trigger, focusing on the thesis of the accident.

The trial started at the end of January. The 12 jurors, all white, began deliberating Thursday afternoon and it is Friday night after the verdict was announced. Since, the decision has sparked an outcry and the case has quickly taken on a connotation of racial.

Saturday morning, Perry Bellegarde has invited the prime minister Justin Trudeau to “take immediate steps to work with First Nations to reform the justice system. Canadians expect more, and the First Nations deserve better,” he wrote in a message on Twitter.

The duty to do better

Since the United States, Mr. Trudeau has also reacted to the decision. “I won’t comment on the process that has led us here today. But I would say that we have reached this point far too often as a country. Aboriginal people across the country are angry and have a broken heart. And I know that Canadians, be they aboriginal or non-aboriginal, know that we need to do better.”

The federal minister of Justice, Jody Wilson-Raybould, has had similar words. “My thoughts go out to the family of Colten Boushie. I really feel your pain and I hear all of your voices. As a country, we can and must do better. I am committed to working every day to ensure justice for all Canadians.”

A campaign sociofinancement has been organized for the family of the deceased can appeal.

On Friday, the spokesperson of the family was assured that she would fight. “We will not abandon our fight for justice,” said the cousin of Boushie, Jade Tootoosis, tears in his eyes. The latter has also expressed doubts as to a fair trial, criticizing the composition of the jury.

For his part, the premier of Saskatchewan, Scott Moe, has launched a call for caution. “Let us remember all our personal responsibility for our thoughts, our actions and our comments, including those on social media,” he said.