Top court shoots down Guy Lafleur’s appeal
OTTAWA — The Supreme Court of Canada will not hear National Hockey League great Guy Lafleur’s bid to seek damages stemming from an arrest several years ago.
Lafleur was seeking financial compensation following his 2008 arrest for giving contradictory testimony at his son Mark’s bail hearing.
The ex-Montreal Canadiens star claimed the Crown and police were cavalier in issuing the arrest warrant, that his reputation was tarnished and that he incurred financial losses following the highly publicized event.
Lafleur was arrested in 2008 and found guilty in 2009, but the conviction was overturned on appeal in 2010.
Mark Lafleur pleaded guilty to charges of assault, forcible confinement and uttering threats against his girlfriend.
The police and Crown said they were justified in proceeding with the warrant given the seriousness of the rare Criminal Code offence.
Quebec Superior Court Justice Andre Wery said in a 2015 decision that there was valid reason to pursue the charge against Guy Lafleur at the time — a ruling Lafleur unsuccessfully appealed, prompting him to take his case to the Supreme Court.