Latest news with #Aspenlieder
Ottawa Citizen
13-07-2025
- Ottawa Citizen
Ottawa lawyer opposes police withholding suspect's names from news releases
A prominent Ottawa criminal defence lawyer is raising questions after police withheld names from some crime-related press releases but not others in recent weeks. Article content Lawrence Greenspon has been advocating for the non-publication of names in news releases since he was in law school, arguing that publicly associating a name with charges will take a person's right to presumption of innocence away. Article content Article content Article content In 1983, he tried to petition the Superior Court of Ontario to put a publication ban on his client's (who was accused of first-degree murder) name. He then made a similar application in 2022 when he was representing a high-profile television personality who was accused of making threatening charges. Article content Article content He was unsuccessful both times. Article content 'My primary position is that no names of anybody should be published or broadcast prior to a finding of guilt, because when that happens, the presumption of innocence goes out the window,' Greenspon told the Ottawa Citizen in an interview. Article content 'But given that that I've been unsuccessful at least twice in trying to convince the courts of that conflict between the presumption of innocence and the freedom of the press, it surprises me and disappoints me to think, to look, to find out that the Ottawa police have taken it upon themselves to decide which names are going to be published and which names are not going to be.' Article content Article content His comments comes after the Ottawa Police Service did not publish names in two separate press releases where the accused were charged with harassment charges. Article content In one release, which was sent on June 30, police withheld the name of a man accused of targeting a 'symbolic flag' with paintballs for several days in Kanata. He was then arrested and charged with two counts of harassment by threatening conduct towards another person and three charges of mischief/damage to property not exceeding $5,000. Article content In another, police withheld the name of Iain Aspenlieder, a former City of Ottawa lawyer accused of vandalizing the Holocaust memorial with red paint in June. Aspenlieder, 46, was charged with mischief to a war monument, mischief exceeding $5,000 and harassment by threatening conduct in relation to the incident. Article content Justice of the Peace Stephen Dibblee said at a bail hearing on June 28 that Aspenlieder's name and charges were not subject to a publication ban. Article content The OPS has disclosed names of accused individuals in the past. Article content Police accused Saleh Garebi, 25, of possession of property obtained by crime, dangerous driving and failure to stop for police in a media release on July 11. Article content They also accused Michael Colborne, 46, of robbery and weapons possession in a media release on July 4. Article content Julie Kavanagh, a spokesperson for the Ottawa Police Service, said the service 'strives to balance transparency with our duty to protect the privacy, safety, and legal rights of everyone involved.' Each case is assessed individually and the decision to withhold a name is guided by 'legal, ethical and operational considerations.' Article content This includes mental health, she said, where disclosure could worsen an individual's mental health and reinforce stigma and cause further harm. Article content Kavanagh said this also includes integrity of investigation or court proceedings — where sharing a name too early could interfere with ongoing investigations or fair trial — and impact on families — where public identification could have unintended consequences for family members, including children and other vulnerable individuals. Article content Article content She added the individual's personal safety would be considered, especially in cases where they may face retaliation or risk for harm. Article content 'While certain information may be publicly available through the courts, it is up to the police service to decide whether to proactively release that information — and whether doing so serves the public interest,' she wrote in an email. Article content 'Our approach reflects a broader trend among police agencies in Ontario and across Canada, where the release of names is determined on a case-by-case basis.' Article content Why some and not others? Article content Greenspon said criminal charges are public information and police have temporarily made it more difficult to access. There is nothing stopping journalists and members of the public from going down to the courthouse to get that information. Article content 'There was one where (the police) mistakenly thought that there was a (publication ban) on a name … There was never any pub ban on his name. There is a pub ban on the evidence that comes out (at) cause bail hearings that's always in place. That's statutory, but it doesn't preclude any media or anybody, for that matter, from broadcasting or publishing the name of the accused person,' he said. Article content Article content He also had concerns about the police withholding names because of concerns about the victims, especially when the accused is presumed innocent until proven guilty. Article content 'Once you allow publication, the name is used. It's certainly not up to the police to decide whose presumption of innocence is going to prevail and whose is not. They have no business picking and choosing on a case-by-case basis, whose life they're going to ruin, whose presumption of innocence they're going to completely respect or not respect based on the quality or the nature of the victim,' Greenspon added. Article content The lawyer also raised questions about the criteria the police use to determine whether to publish the name of an accused individual. Article content 'They've decided we're going to do it on a case-by-case basis. Yeah, according to who?' he said. Article content What are the best practices? Article content Greenspon urged Ottawans to understand that just because someone was charged doesn't mean they committed the crime. Article content This is especially important in the age of social media where someone's charges will be seen and shared by thousands of people, he said. Article content 'The average person on the street should appreciate that when a person is charged with a crime, they are just charged and they are innocent. Part of that presumption of innocence is that their name should not come out, because if and when it does, they will begin to suffer the consequences long before there's been a determination by the court,' he said. Article content 'I think if you talk to the average person on the street … There's an immediate assumption of guilt rather than presumption of innocence.' Article content A Canadian Association of Journalist paper published in May 2022 also urged newsrooms to rethink practices of always naming accused people in crime stories, especially for minor offences. Article content However, journalists should not be bound by police decisions on whether to name those accused of crimes. Article content Article content 'We must stress again that journalism should not involve decisions or practices whereby reporting is based on a police decision to withhold the name of an accused. Journalists should still seek the name of an accused person even if they know they're unlikely to publish it. Decisions about the elements of a story are a core aspect of editorial discretion, and while police may be sources of information, they do not make news decisions about a story,' the paper reads.
Toronto Sun
02-07-2025
- Toronto Sun
Man accused of vandalizing Ottawa Holocaust memorial denied bail
Iain Aspenlieder will remain in custody until his next court date which is scheduled for July 9. The Holocaust Memorial in Ottawa was vandalized on June 09, 2025. Photo by Jean Levac / Postmedia A former city lawyer who was accused of vandalizing a Holocaust memorial with red paint earlier this month has been denied bail after a hearing on Wednesday morning. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account The monument, located at 1918 Chaudière Crossing, was painted with the words 'FEED ME' in large block letters on the side adjacent to Wellington Street on June 9. Red paint was also painted on the memorial's facade. Iain Aspenlieder, 46, has been charged with mischief to a war monument, mischief exceeding $5,000 and harassment by threatening conduct in relation to the incident. He will remain in custody until his next court date, which is scheduled for July 9, according to Justice of the Peace Stephen Dibblee, who rendered the decision. Details behind the decision cannot be published due to a publication ban. This comes after the City of Ottawa confirmed that Aspenlieder had been fired from his job as a lawyer last Sunday. According to the Ontario Sunshine List, Aspenlieder was making $146,000 a year. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. In a previous statement to the Ottawa Citizen, interim city solicitor Stuart Huxley said Aspenlieder was on leave when the incident occurred. 'The recent act affecting the National Holocaust monument was deplorable and is counter to the values we seek to uphold in our community. We extend our deepest sympathies to members of our community impacted by this disgraceful act,' Huxley wrote. 'The City can confirm that the individual implicated in this act was on leave at the time of the incident and is no longer employed by the City. As the matter is the subject of a police investigation and is before the courts, the City will provide no further comment.' Lawrence Greenspon, co-chair of the National Holocaust Monument Committee, previously told the Ottawa Citizen that the vandalism made him 'feel sick.' 'This is the ultimate act of hatred at the National Holocaust Memorial,' said Greenspon, whose daughter was named after his aunt who died in a concentration camp. With files from Joanne Laucius Read More Sports Money News MLB Toronto Maple Leafs Canada
Ottawa Citizen
02-07-2025
- Ottawa Citizen
Man accused of vandalizing Ottawa Holocaust memorial denied bail
A former city lawyer who was accused of vandalizing a Holocaust memorial with red paint earlier this month has been denied bail after a hearing on Wednesday morning. Article content The monument, located at 1918 Chaudière Crossing, was painted with the words 'FEED ME' in large block letters on the side adjacent to Wellington Street on June 9. Red paint was also painted on the memorial's facade. Article content Article content Article content Iain Aspenlieder, 46, has been charged with mischief to a war monument, mischief exceeding $5,000 and harassment by threatening conduct in relation to the incident. Article content Article content He will remain in custody until his next court date, which is scheduled for July 9, according to Justice of the Peace Stephen Dibblee, who rendered the decision. Article content Details behind the decision cannot be published due to a publication ban. Article content This comes after the City of Ottawa confirmed that Aspenlieder had been fired from his job as a lawyer last Sunday. According to the Ontario Sunshine List, Aspenlieder was making $146,000 a year. Article content 'The recent act affecting the National Holocaust monument was deplorable and is counter to the values we seek to uphold in our community. We extend our deepest sympathies to members of our community impacted by this disgraceful act,' Huxley wrote. Article content Article content 'The City can confirm that the individual implicated in this act was on leave at the time of the incident and is no longer employed by the City. As the matter is the subject of a police investigation and is before the courts, the City will provide no further comment.' Article content
Ottawa Citizen
29-06-2025
- Ottawa Citizen
Man accused in Holocaust Memorial vandalism fired by City of Ottawa
The City of Ottawa has confirmed that the man accused of vandalizing the National Holocaust Memorial with red paint earlier this month has been fired. Article content In a statement on Sunday afternoon, interim city solicitor Stuart Huxley confirmed that Iain Aspenlieder no longer works for the city and that he was on leave at the time of the incident. Article content Article content 'The recent act affecting the National Holocaust monument was deplorable and is counter to the values we seek to uphold in our community. We extend our deepest sympathies to members of our community impacted by this disgraceful act,' Huxley wrote in an emailed statement to the Citizen. Article content Article content 'The City can confirm that the individual implicated in this act was on leave at the time of the incident and is no longer employed by the City. As the matter is the subject of a police investigation and is before the courts, the City will provide no further comment.' Article content Article content Aspenlieder has been charged with mischief to a war monument, mischief exceeding $5,000 and harassment by threatening conduct in relation to the incident. Article content The monument, located at 1918 Chaudière Crossing, was sprayed with the words 'FEED ME' in large block letters on the side adjacent to Wellington Street on June 9. Red paint was also sprayed along the building's facade. Article content Aspenlieder is scheduled to appear in court on July 2 for a bail hearing decision following an appearance on Saturday. Article content He was also suspended administratively by the Law Society of Ontario. An administrative suspension means a lawyer has been suspended for administrative reasons, such as failing to pay fees or filing forms on time. A suspended lawyer cannot practice law or provide legal services, the law society said. Article content
Edmonton Journal
29-06-2025
- Edmonton Journal
Man accused in Holocaust Memorial vandalism is City of Ottawa lawyer on leave
Article content The 46-year-old man who faces a number of charges after the National Holocaust Memorial was vandalized with red paint on June 9 is an Ottawa city lawyer on leave. Iain Aspenlieder has been charged with mischief to a war monument, mischief exceeding $5,000 and harassment by threatening conduct. Aspenlieder is listed in Ontario's Sunshine List as a legal counsel with the City of Ottawa with a salary of $148,246.65 as of 2024.
