A defence lawyer has raised allegations of an Oshawa courthouse police assault, claiming she was physically harmed by Durham police officers inside the Oshawa courthouse on Jan. 23.
The lawyer, Sudine Riley, was issued a trespassing ticket for “fail to leave premises when directed” just 10 minutes after the courthouse officially closed at 5 p.m. The notice, issued at 5:10 p.m., names Durham officer Lyndon Greene and carries a $65 fine.
Riley alleges that during the Oshawa courthouse police assault, officers slammed her head on a desk, put their knees on her back and neck, and escorted her to the cells in handcuffs. She reported bleeding and a swollen eye as a result.
While York Regional Police are now investigating the allegations at Durham’s request, Durham police declined to comment. Officers involved in the incident have been reassigned from courthouse security.
Legal experts and advocacy groups, including Women in Canadian Criminal Defence, criticized the issuance of the trespass ticket, calling it an “egregious abuse of power.” Lawyers note it is common to remain in courthouse offices after 5 p.m., and no previous cases of trespassing lawyers have been reported.
A sit-in protest took place at the Oshawa courthouse, drawing dozens of mainly female lawyers and paralegals to show support for Riley and call for accountability following the alleged Oshawa courthouse police assault.
