Ruthowsky trial nearing a close

Hamilton police officer Craig Ruthowsky finished testifying at his corruption trial today. That means the evidence is almost entirely in, and the decision is close to being handed over to the jury.

The crown prosecutor spent days combing through things Craig Ruthowsky said in a conversation with a drug dealer recorded by Toronto Police in a wire tap operation in 2015, and things the Hamilton officer said in text messages to his informants. The crown says the evidence shows Ruthowsky was working for the drug dealers. The officer disagreed.

“I had an order not to talk to my informants and I breached that order.” Ruthowsky admitted, but he said he only did so to save lives and uphold the oath of office he took as a police officer to keep the community safe.

The crown suggested the drug dealer who is the key witness in this case was never Ruthowsky’s informant, that Ruthowsky was instead the paid informant to the drug dealer. Ruthowsky disagreed.

The judge told the jury the evidence in this trial will be over this week, they will hear closing arguments form crown and defence next Wednesday, and the following Monday, April 23rd, the judge will deliver his instructions. After that, they will be sequestered until they reach a verdict.