CROWN DROPS MORRISON MERCY KILLING CASE

HALIFAX, Dec 11 (LSN)  Despite the appeals of the pro-life movement in Canada, the Nova Scotia Crown has decided not to appeal the acquittal of Halifax respirologist Nancy Morrison. Crown attorney Craig Botterill said that the Crown would not appeal since “there’s no reasonable likelihood that a further appeal would be successful.”  In May 1997, Halifax Regional Police charged Morrison with murder after finding evidence that she injected her cancer patient Paul Mills with potassium chloride KCl in order to stop his heart. Witnesses saw Morrison inject Mills’ IV and claim Morrison admitted to them that the syringe contained KCl. In February,  Halifax Provincial Court Judge Hughes Randall dismissed murder charges against Morrison, ruling that there was insufficient evidence to show that her alleged euthanasia attempt actually caused Mill’s death. The crown appealed the decision, however the Nova Scotia Supreme Court agreed with Randall’s ruling.  After announcing plans to drop all actions against Morrison, Botterill added that, despite public opposition (which the crown faced in this case), the Crown has an obligation to uphold the law. “I hope the message that comes from this prosecution is loud and clear, and that is: The police and the Crown in this province respect the law as given to it by Parliament and that we have and will continue to prosecute mercy killing to the fullest extent of the law.”