Lawyer blasts ‘double-standard police force’
Says nothing is being done about threats against his client, a suspected murderer
An accused murderer is being threatened and the police are doing nothing about it, his lawyer said.
“It was caught on camera (at court), heard by sheriff ’s officers, and no independent investigation has been done,” Bob Buckingham said Friday morning after Ray Stacey’s case was called in provincial court in St. John’s.
It’s one of many beefs Buckingham has with the justice system, which he believes is treating Stacey unfairly.
Stacey is charged with second-degree murder. He was arrested Jan. 11 after he reportedly stabbed and killed 41-year-old Clifford Comerford.
Police were called to Greenwood Crescent in Mount Pearl, where the incident happened. The two men —co-workers at Canadian Poultry Services — were said to have been in a company shuttle van on their way to work at a chicken farm when Comerford was stabbed multiple times.
Buckingham said threats were also made against Stacey that day. He said a witness has come forward to verify it, but the police are not doing anything about that, either.
Speaking to reporters following proceedings, Buckingham said he believes there’s a bias towards Stacey.
“There seems to be a doublestandard police force here in respect of how they handle things,” he said.
“I’m ticked off at it. It’s not fair. There should be investigations into the (threats) made against my client.
“Not only that, it looks like one of the people who made the threats against my client continues to come to court every day and nothing goes on. It’s just not proper.”
Buckingham said his client has not made a formal complaint because if he did he would be considered a rat and something might happen to him while he’s behind bars.
“If someone breaks the law and the police are aware of it, they should independently investigate it, and they haven’t done it,” he said.
“It’s dereliction of their duty. … The issue has been raised and action has not been taken.”
Stacey wasn’t in the courtroom Friday. Buckingham and Crown prosecutor Shawn Patten agreed to postpone the case until March 6, when they plan to set dates for Stacey’s preliminary inquiry.
Close to a dozen members of Comerford’s family and friends were in the courtroom, many wearing T-shirts that had, “Justice for Cliffie,” on them above Comerford’s photo.
Buckingham has a problem with that overt expression of grief.
“People come to court with T-shirts, which are demonstrations and intended to intimidate the court process,” he told reporters following proceedings outside court.
When it was pointed out that it could merely be the reaction of a grieving family, Buckingham said, “I’m not going to comment on the emotionality of things involved. That will come out in the preliminary inquiry and in the trial.
“But people who live in glass houses should not throw stones. I’ll say that.”
“I’m ticked off at it. It’s not fair. There should be investigations into the (threats) made against my client. Not only that, it looks like one of the people who made the threats against my client continues to come to court every day and nothing goes on. It’s just not proper.” Defence lawyer Bob Buckingham