Angry in the Great White North

From CTV:

The lawyer for convicted pedophile Peter Whitmore has said his client made a bargain with police before his recent arrest. The deal allegedly prevents prosecutors from seeking a dangerous offender status or a life sentence.

Lawyer Dan Brodsky claimed the RCMP made a written agreement with Whitmore on Tuesday, during a 10-hour standoff at an abandoned farmhouse in Saskatchewan.

The deal allegedly states that Whitmore will take a plea, and so spare the two boys he kidnapped the trauma of testifying. In return, the prosecutors would not seek a life sentence, either directly or by having Whitmore classified a dangerous offender.

The prosecutors insist they won't play ball:

But Saskatchewan Justice Minister Frank Quennell said any such alleged agreement would not hold up in court.

"No discussions, even discussion written (down), will have any effect on how this man is prosecuted," said Quennell.

With all due respect to Minister Quennell, if the deal exists, it has to be honoured.

If it isn't honoured, then no criminal will ever strike a deal with the Crown ever again. A key crime fighting tool will forever be compromised.

But it is worse than that. This deal was arranged by the RCMP. It is their credibility on the line as well. Do you think they'll just sit back while Quennell reneges on the deal? What happens the next time a Mountie is facing a dangerous criminal, maybe holding a hostage, and the Mountie tries to defuse the situation by offering some sort of consideration? Does the criminal remember how Quennell broke a Mountie's promise to Whitmore, and refuse to deal? Maybe he decides to try to shoot his way out instead.

The fact is a broken deal puts the police and the public in danger, which is why it has to be honoured. Which is why in this case, the RCMP will force Quennell to honour the deal. If Quennell tries to break the deal, expect the Mounties to make it clear to him that the Mounties will treat Saskatchewan prosecutors as the enemy. Imagine how conviction rate will drop, and how Quennell's approval ratings will drop along with it.

Not all is lost, though:

Meanwhile, Newfoundland police are investigating the possibility that convicted Whitmore, who was formally charged Thursday with abducting and sexually assaulting two boys, assaulted another young boy while living in Conception Bay South, N.L.

Whitmore lived in the town, which is located about 15 kilometres west of St. John's, for about a week in late June and early July, and police said he befriended local children and invited them into his home.

"We are looking into potential offences that were committed while he was here," said Insp. June Layden of the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary, The Globe and Mail reported Friday.

Of course, those events wouldn't be covered by this deal. If the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary can build a case, they can go after Whitmore with all guns blazing.