Murder cases proceed following legal aid boycott

A spokesperson for the criminal lawyers’ association in Thunder Bay says he is glad the province’s legal aid boycott is over.

Lawyer Gil Labine, along with other defence attorneys, is able to represent people charged in homicide cases after the province agreed to boost legal aid funding .

Among the murder suspects impacted by the boycott were Harold Barr and Eric Lindstrom. They both learned in court Tuesday that they can move forward with a lawyer on their cases once the new provincial deal comes into affect Feb. 1.

Labine plans to represent Barr, along with 63-year-old Michael Kelly, who was charged with first-degree murder in October.

The province will pay defence attorneys 40 per cent more over the next five years to take on such cases. Labine said they were hoping to receive more compensation from the deal, but added that the recent negotiations are a step in the right direction.

Thunder Bay had four murder suspects impacted by the legal aid boycott, along with two people charged last year with a homicide near Pickle Lake.

The accused individuals will be free to start legal proceedings with a defence lawyer once the legal aid deal takes effect next Monday.