Rumours Not Uncommon In High Profile Cases-Hallett

AM 1220 

January 22, 2009 — Rumours are not uncommon in high profile cases according to a Crown attorney who worked in Cornwall. Shelley Hallett prosecuted a number of charges from the O.P.P.'s Project Truth investigation. Over 100 charges were laid against 15 area men during the four-year probe but there was only one conviction. Hallett told the Cornwall Public Inquiry today she was aware of rumours and innuendo surrounding child sex abuse in the area. But she says this is not unlike other cases. Hallett admits reputations can be tarnished. (Hear audio clip below) Hallett's testimony continues. 

[Transcript of audio clip:  “I can’t take responsibility for rumours . . . . . . I certainly sympathize with all of those who are under a cloud such as the one I was under and that these individuals may have been under. But there hadn’t been a finding against them and I wanted to make sure that whatever was done by the police and the Crown would not result in anything unjust in relation to those individuals.]