ACCUSEDS' RIGHTS VIOLATED, LAWSUIT CLAIMS

EDMONTON (CP) - Degrading and inhumane conditions at the Edmonton Remand
Centre violated the constitutional rights of 19 people charged in a major
drug case, says a lawsuit filed in the Court of Queen's Bench.

Assaults and humiliating treatment by guards put "undue pressure" on the
accused men and women to plead guilty, says a statement of claim filed in
Edmonton.

They are suing the federal and provincial governments for $300,000 apiece
in damages, alleging cruel and unusual punishment in contravention of the
Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Unlawful strip searches and confinement in segregation also violated their
constitutional rights to be free from arbitrary imprisonment and
unreasonable search and seizure, says the statement of claim.

The 19 accused were all kept in custody for more than 18 months.

Lawyer Nathan Whitling, said charges are still pending against some of the
complainants, while others have had the charges against them stayed.

No statement of defence has been filed and allegations in the statement of
claim have not been proven in court.

The allegations have been aired in a hearing into conditions at the remand
centre which began last year. It is set to continue this fall in front of
Court of Queen's Bench Justice Richard Marceau.