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PRINCE GEORGE
Citizen
Serving the Central Interior since 1916
FRIDAY, MARCH 14, 2003
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Former judge charged with sex offences
by KAREN KWAN Citizen staff
A former provincial court judge in Prince George has been charged with (committing sex crimes against young jgiris as well as breach of public duty, i David William Ramsay appeared in B.C. Supreme Court Thursday to face fcharges in a 10-count direct indictment filed by a special prosecutor. Charges include obtaining die sexual services of a person under 18, sexual assault, sexual assault involving threats or a weapon Sand sexual touching and invitation to isexual touching of a person under 14. Ihe breach of public trust charge alleges the ex-judge used his position in a way that compromised the integrity of that office. The allegations involve four girls and relate to incidents in Prince George between 1992 and 2001, while Ramsay was a popular sitting judge. Prince George RCMP began investigating in August 1999 and said the probe is not over.
Ramsay was driven to and from the courthouse through the underground parkade by a friend who is a Prince George lawyer, and brought into the courtroom through a route normally reserved for a jury, avoiding reporters and the public. He was released on bail after agreeing to conditions. The complainants’ identities and information from the bail hearing are protected by two publication bans.
Special prosecutor Dennis Murray, who was appointed to review the police investigation last October, wouldn’t elaborate on the allegations and couldn’t say whether more charges would be laid. “I have no information in that regard right now,” he said outside the courthouse.
He said he doesn’t recall a judge being prosecuted for these types of offences before. The direct indictment elimi-
nates the need for a preliminary hearing in provincial court. “The principle reason for a direct indictment is that this accused used to sit on the provincial court. It would be very uncomfortable for the provincial court to hear the case, even at a preliminary hearing,” Murray said.
Ramsay, who’s being represented by Vancouver lawyer Leonard Doust, has elected to be tried by judge alone and a trial date is expected to be set May 23.
Sheriff Ken Newman said Ramsay was permitted to come into the courtroom through a back room because his counsel had requested a secluded place to speak with him. “It’s unusual, but it has happened in the past,” he said.
Speculation has been rampant since the Attorney General ministry’s criminal justice branch confirmed last October that RCMP were investigating and a special prosecutor had been appointed. Still, the charges against the respected former judge were deeply disturbing to many in the legal community. “The legal community is shocked from top to bottom,” said one source, who didn’t want to be named. “Everybody liked him. He wasn’t regarded as a bad, nasty man, but as a caring man. That’s why it’s so out of character.”
The source said Ramsay was a competent lawyer and there was no pattern of unusual sentences.
Ramsay, who was appointed to the bench in 1991, was removed from duty last July, shortly after B.C. Chief Judge Carol Baird learned there was a criminal investigation. He resigned, effective Oct. 31, the same day the criminal justice branch confirmed police were investigating. Ramsay began practising law in Prince George in the 1970s as a Legal Aid lawyer, and was later a partner in a number of firms, practising in various areas, including criminal law.
Citizen photo by Brent Braaten
Special prosecutor Dennis Murray speaks to a scrum of Prince George and Vancouver-based reporters outside the Prince George courthouse Thursday afternoon after charges were laid against former judge David Ramsay.
Allegations worry observers
by KAREN KWAN Citizen Staff
Allegations against a former provincial court judge involving underage sex-trade workers come as no surprise, says a group that’s fighting the illicit industry.
Some in the legal arena worry the charges could create distrust of the judicial system.
David William Ramsay was charged Thursday with nine sex-related offences as well as breach of public trust involving alleged incidents between 1992 and 2001, while he was a judge in Prince George.
The charges come during the Prevention of Sexually Exploited Youth Week in B.C. and the day before a forum on the issue takes place in Prince George.
“I guess it doesn’t surprise me... We know that we have a significant number of sex-trade workers in our community and they wouldn’t be there if there were no customers,” said Community Against the Sexual Exploitation of Youth (CASEY) chair Murry Krause. It’s not poor people who usually purchase sex, but those from all socio-economic levels, he said. “So I guess why would a judge be any different? But I think it’s disappointing for people when people in positions of power are charged with these kinds of offences,” said Krause, who’s also a city councillor.
He said CASEY has been trying to educate people about that reality for years.
The charges bring a higher profile to the cause, he said. “Now it puts a face on it. It’s easy to depersonalize it when it’s not associated with an individual,” Krause said.
It’s difficult to gauge how many young sex-trade workers are in the community, he said, because the number fluctuates, but it’s “significant.” A few years ago, he said one report estimated there were 35 to 50 young sex-trade workers in the city.
Jon Swainger, who teaches the history of crime at the University of Northern B.C., said the allegations could create distrust of the legal system. “This is worse than I thought it
Citizen photo by Brent Braaten
David Ramsay Is driven away from the courthouse Thursday by Prince George lawyer James Cluff.
was going to be. That’s very serious stuff,” he said. “Certainly this casts the administration of justice in disrepute. There’s no question whatsoever,” he said.
The allegations could make it difficult for the system to function in the future, Swainger said. “Why would a street worker who’s been assaulted or been witness to a crime bring herself or himself into the reach of the legal system with the expectation that they may for various reasons get exploited?”
The allegations are even more troubling, he said, considering a judge who deals with these types of offences would be highly aware of the harm done to victims and the consequences of committing any crimes.
Andrew Kemp, president of the Cariboo Bar Association, pointed out that die system has dealt with the allegations. “I’d be much more concerned if anyone were suggesting that somehow these allegations have not been thoroughly investigated or somehow treated in a offhanded way, but clearly that’s not happening here,” he said.
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Annie’s Mailbox.............44
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Business ................40-42
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Classified ..............18-23
Comics .....................26
Coming Events.............2,36
Crossword ..................26
Entertainment ... .25,27,28
Horoscope ..................21
Lifestyles 31,36,43,44
Movies...................27,28
Nation ...................6,14
Sports ...................8-12
Television..................28
World....................15,16
Nettleton wants B.C. Hydro investigation
by GORDON HOEKSTRA Citizen staff
Prince George-Omineca Independent MLA Paul Netdeton has asked B.C.’s auditor general to investigate the B.C. government’s Hydro-Accen-ture deal.
Netdeton — who was kicked out of the Liberal caucus because he said his party had a secret plan to sell-off B.C. Hydro — has already presented information to the Auditor General on the government’s deal to contract out services to international consulting firm Accenture, a Bermuda-based company which is going to set up a separate Canadian company based in Vancouver. The B.C. government plans to transfer more than 1,600 employees responsible for billing, accounting,
human resources and information technology to Accenture.
The Auditor General’s office has not decided whether it will take on an investigation.
“We want some accountability with respect to the Accenture deal,” Nettleton said from Victoria on Thursday.
He has asked the auditor to look at whether due diligence was carried out by B.C. Hydro in working out a contract with Accenture, and an accounting of the costs or savings of the
NETTLETON
contract. The B.C. Liberal government has said the deal will save $250 million during the next five years.
Other questions Nettleton wants answered include how Accenture was created and its relationship to accounting firm Arthur Anderson, which was involved in the Enron Corp. scandal.
Auditor General Wayne Strelioff was not available for comment, but Endre Dolhai, a principal in the auditor’s office, said a number of factors will be used to determine whether the Accenture deal will be reviewed. Those include whether it’s a significant issue in the public interest and if the auditor’s office has the resources, he said.
Dolhai could not say how long the
decision will take.
Prince George North MLA Pat Bell had defended the Accenture deal last month, saying the new joint venture will not only save the province $250 million, but could create more jobs as the company expands throughout North American, using the B.C. Hydro employees as its base.
Bell also said critics of the proposed changes are misrepresenting the agreement when they say B.C. Hydro is being privatized.
“We’re not selling assets,” he said. “We’re contractually moving in the direction of having someone else help provide support services to us. B.C. Hydro is working hand in hand with a private sector partner and creating opportunities for British Columbians.”
Housing market positive, CMHC analyst says
by PAUL STRICKLAND Citizen staff
Things are definitely looking up for the Prince George homebuilding industry, says a senior market analyst with the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC). “Overall, things are looking positive because mortgage rates are still at historic lows, making home ownership much more affordable for first-time buyers looking to get into a home, particularly a new home,” Cameron Muir said Thursday.
It is too early to establish a trend for Prince George with figures for just two months, he said, but year-to-date total housing starts in all categories are up by more than 14 per cent — to eight this year from seven in 2002.
“However, Prince George has established itself as the hub of the central part of the province, particularly for regional service industries and for transportation,” Muir said from Vancouver.
“In terms of diversification of its economy, it’s look-
ing better all the time,” he said.
To the extent that the increase in total housing starts is not more pronounced, that is an indication that Prince George is still feeling the residual effects of the softwood lumber dispute with the U.S.
“But as the U.S. economy rebounds, as we know it will, there will be more demand south of the border for B.C. products and services,” Muir said. “That will have a positive effect on Prince George and the economy of the region.”
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