For Immediate Release
Toronto, September 5, 1996... B'nai Brith Canada endorses former Chief Justice Dubin's conclusion that the judiciary was not dealing with the Nazi war crimes cases in an expeditious manner. B’nai Brith Canada commends Dubin's appreciation of the seriousness of these proceedings.
David Matas, Honourary Senior Legal Counsel for B’nai Brith Canada issued
the following statement: "B’nai Brith Canada concurs with former Chief Justice Dubin's conclusion
that the war crimes cases should have been handled more expeditiously due
to the severity of the crimes these individuals are accused of having committed.
In light of the age of the defendants and witnesses involved in these cases,
they should have been made a top priority by the judiciary.
Justice Dubin's conclusion about judicial delays only confirms that the
actions by Thompson and Isaac were basically correct, although defence
counsel should have been kept informed about their actions. We now hope
that this matter can be placed behind us and that the government will quickly
proceed with the appeal in the cases of Helmut Oberlander, Johann Dueck,
and Erichs Tobiass.
B'nai Brith Canada views the decision by Justice Cullen to stay the proceedings
in the three cases as a grant of immunity for alleged mass murderers, and
believes that the decision has placed the Canadian judicial system in disrepute.
Allan Rock's decision to relocate Thompson is a more appropriate response
than is Cullen's ruling to stay the proceedings."
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