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Supreme Court restores Ellard conviction in Virk case

Kirk Makin
Toronto — Globe and Mail Update, Friday, Jun. 12, 2009 10:11AM EDT

The Supreme Court of Canada has restored a B.C. woman's conviction in the swarming murder of 14-year-old Reena Virk, a case that horrified the country and led to a national debate about the scourge of youth bullying.

In an 8-1 ruling this morning, the court overturned a B.C. Court of Appeal decision that had invalidated Kelly Ellard's conviction following her third trial in the notorious case.

Ms. Ellard had earlier avoided being convicted based on a hung jury and a trial that was ruled invalid due to judicial errors. The Supreme Court appeal was a last-ditch attempt by the Crown to bring Ms. Ellard to justice.
Failure would likely have meant the end of the prosecution, since rarely, if ever, has the Crown pressed a prosecution to a fourth trial.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/...rticle1179394/