Judge rules abuse of process in Nygard case but Manitoba charges to continue – Winnipeg [Video]

A judge has ruled a decision by Manitoba’s former attorney general to review a criminal case against former fashion mogul Peter Nygard was an abuse of process.

Judge Mary Kate Harvie said in a decision Tuesday that Kelvin Goertzen, when he was attorney general with the former Progressive Conservative government, didn’t do his due diligence in seeking a second opinion on a decision by the Crown not to lay charges.

Charges were later laid against Nygard.

The judge wrote Goertzen acted on “partisan concerns.”

“By proceeding in this manner and seeking a second opinion without an articulated basis, the attorney general undermined public confidence in Manitoba Prosecution Service counsel, and by extension the justice system, rather than improving it,” Harvie wrote.

“In order for the attorney general to respect and maintain the rule of law, he cannot be swayed by media criticism, petitions, public demonstrations or partisan concerns.

“At the end of the day every person, no matter how reviled, how notorious, how popular …