Back in December, a Canadian court ruled that 12 members of the Klassen family prosecuted in a series of ritual abuse cases had been the subject of “malicious prosecution” (see Saskatchewan Government Says It’s Not Sorry for Malicious Prosecution). In February, the Saskatchewan government agreed to pay the Klassens an interim $1.5 million payment, with more compensation — though not necessarily an apology — coming.
That came after a judge ordered Saskatchewan to enter into settlement talks with the Klassens despite the government’s ongoing appeal of the December ruling. In fact, Saskatchewan Justice Minister Frank Quennell was quick to point out that by paying the $1.5 million, the government was not admitting fault. Quennell told the CBC,
These are not monies being paid in respect to damages, or in respect to any liability. The government is not subject to the result of the appeal, is not liable to pay this amount of money.
For his part, the most famous of the defendants, Richard Klassen, said that the payment of the money is an acknowledgement of his family’s innocence, although he still wants an apology from the government,
It’s been a long time. So what went through my mind was a little bit of satisfaction and, well, acknowledgement. It’s one thing to be acknowledged that you’re innocent, but, I mean, taking away a little bit of the suffering helps.
Quennell might not think that police and the government were malicious, but according to the CBC, in early February “two executive members of Frank Quennell’s constituency office resigned in disgust over the way the Klassens have been treated by the Justice Department.”
Source:
Government gives Klassens $1.5M. CBC Saskatchewan, February 5, 2004.