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Judge rejects cameras in court for Stanley Cup riot sentencing

VANCOUVER A judge has blocked an attempt by B.C. Premier Christy Clark to have the court case of a Stanley Cup rioter televised.

Provincial court Judge Malcolm MacLean has denied an application by the Crown to broadcast the sentencing of 20-year-old Ryan Dickinson, who has pleaded guilty to participating in the riot last June.

MacLean says there are many issues that have yet to be addressed, from the safety of court personnel and judges to what will happen to the footage after it’s on the Internet, and he doesn’t want to delay Dickinson’s sentencing hearing on Tuesday.

Instead, MacLean says a lawyer should be appointed to explore those issues in greater detail.

MacLean also rejected the suggestion by Dickinson’s lawyer that the application to televise the proceedings was politically motivated.

Clark used a throne speech last year to announce she’d be directing Crown counsel to make such applications in every case, and this was the first such application.

MacLean noted that he doesn’t expect other judges to be bound by his decision, as they may have different concerns with the prospect of televising court proceedings.

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