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Thursday, March 17, 2011

Canada - VANCOUVER - New trial set date expected next week for Hells Angels member..

OFF THE WIRE
NEAL HALL
 vancouversun.com
John Virgil Punko was arrested five and one-half years ago as part of a $10-million police investigation that targeted the East End Hells Angels.

A member of the East end Hells Angels is expected to set a new trial date next week on a criminal organization charge.
John Virgil Punko was in B.C. Supreme Court briefly Tuesday to set a trial date.
He explained to Associate Chief Justice Anne MacKenzie that he had not yet retained a lawyer.
The judge put the matter over to March 23 at 2 p.m.
A new trial was ordered by the B.C. Court of Appeal, which found that the trial judge, Justice Peter Leask of the B.C. Supreme Court, erred in his finding that the Crown could not proceed on criminal organization charges against Punko and a co-accused, Randy Potts.
Leask concluded that since a jury acquitted both men of criminal organization charges at an earlier trial, the Crown couldn't litigate the matter again.
In a Appeal Court judgment last month, a new trial was ordered for both men.
The Crown has decided to proceed to trial on the Punko matter.
Punko is currently serving a prison sentence for drug trafficking.
The Crown alleges Punko's drug trafficking took place in association with or for the benefit of a criminal organization - the East End chapter of the Hells Angels.
The bikers have always maintained they are a motorcycle club, not an organized crime group.
The charges stem from a $10-million police investigation known as E-Pandora, which concluded in 2005 with the arrest of 18 men, including six Hells Angels.
The investigation used a police agent, Michael Plante, to infiltrate the East End Hells Angels.
nhall@vancouversun.com






Read more: http://www.vancouversun.com/news/trial+date+expected+next+week+Hells+Angels+member/4443884/story.html#ixzz1GoeLVrLy



Read more: http://www.vancouversun.com/news/trial+date+expected+next+week+Hells+Angels+member/4443884/story.html#ixzz1GoeCFGG2