Lawyer for accused neo-Nazi claims prejudice
Posted December 23, 2011 12:33 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – A lawyer is blasting the Mounties for putting Nazi paraphernalia on display at a news conference where they announced charges against three men earlier this month.
Robertson de Chazal, 25, Alastair Miller, 20, and Shawn MacDonald, 39, are accused of belonging to the white supremacist group Blood and Honour. They were arrested after a lengthy RCMP investigation into assaults on minorities in the Lower Mainland.
Lawyer David F. Sutherland represents de Chazal’s family and says his client will plead not guilty.
“He will mount a vigorous defence,” Sutherland said. “However it is difficult for Mr. de Chazal and his family and his friends to defend themselves from the totally inappropriate imputations and innuendo the police leveled at their press conference after the charges were laid.”
De Chazal and Miller are accused of setting a Filipino man on fire while he slept on a discarded couch in 2009. De Chazal is also accused of knocking a black man unconscious in 2008. The assault charges against MacDonald relate to incidents from last year.
“Such stunts as displaying a Nazi flag and speaking of an ‘international white supremacist organization… linked to violent incidents worldwide’ should be seen for what they are: completely unfounded, highly prejudicial, and fundamentally contrary to the spirit of our legal system,” Sutherland said.
All three men will be back in court next month.
