Jury has found Constable Doduk Not Guilty of Assault causing Bodi ly Harm and Assault with a Weapon after 9 hours of Deliberation

 jury found an Edmonton Police officer not guilty of Assault Causing Bodily Harm and Assault with a Weapon after five days of witness testimony, video surveillance, and audio recordings of the radio call to police dispatch. 


On November 26, 2019, Constable Doduk was en route to the Edmonton Law Court on a subpoena for traffic court when the complainant, Justin Lafrance, flagged him down during a pursuit of an alleged person causing mischief at his worksite.


While Constable Doduk was arresting the suspect, Justin attempted to gain the constable's attention. The officer then stood up and struck Justin in the face, escalating to a total of nine baton strikes to Justin's head, arms, legs, and torso.


Justin was subsequently arrested for Obstruction and Assaulting a Peace Officer, though these charges were later dropped after the video evidence surfaced.


Constable Doduk was later suspended with pay after being accused of killing an unarmed man in 2021. The Crown Prosecution Office laid the Assault charges in 2023 after the surveillance footage was provided.


December 12, 2023
Peace Bonds usually come into play when there have been charges in a domestic setting. Well under section 810 of the Criminal Code of Canada. But what does that mean? Let’s take a look at Section 810 to start. S. 810 (1) An information may be laid before a justice by or on behalf of any person who fears on reasonable grounds that another person (a) will cause personal injury to them or to their intimate partner or child or will damage their property; or (b) will commit an offence under section 162.1. In these situations, a person can obtain a peace bond against the defendant from the Court. The Court may impose specific conditions that are designed to prevent the defendant from committing harm to the person, their spouse or common-law partner, their child, or from committing damage to their property. So the courts have granted a Peace Bond, What would you be looking at to undergo the fulfillment of the conditions? What kind of conditions would I have? The defendant may agree or the Court can order the defendant to: keep the peace and be of good behaviour; not contact the person, their spouse, or child; not visit the person, their spouse, or child; not call the person on the phone; not write letters or send text messages; abstain from using non-prescription drugs or alcohol, and be required to provide bodily samples to ensure compliance; be forbidden from owning weapons; pay, or promise to pay, a refundable surety (cash bond) to the Court, which may be forfeited if the defendant subsequently breaches any conditions of the peace bond; or any other condition the Court considers desirable to prevent the harm.
December 12, 2023
“The Justice Statutes Amendment Act (formerly Bill 5) strengthens our justice system by taking steps to simplify legal and court processes for Albertans and improve security at the Alberta legislature. The act amends 6 acts to make it easier to collect child support, increase the civil claims limit, clarify referendum rules, eliminate unnecessary record-keeping requirements, and support the transfer of trusts. Changes also allow legislative security to carry firearms. This was recommended by the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly and Sergeant-At-Arms following incidents on Parliament Hill in 2014 and at the Alberta legislature in 2019. These changes reduce red tape, increase access to the justice system, and ensure the legislature building and grounds remain a safe and secure setting.”
December 12, 2023
Sam Rad  Legal Case Manager | Former President of Paralegal Society of Canada | Tutor for Paralegal Studies | Marketing Specialist