Hales trial won't be reopened for new evidence

A Saskatoon judge has ruled the trial of Douglas Hales, accused of murdering Daleen Bosse, will not be reopened for new evidence. Instead, the trial will proceed to a second round of final submissions in November.

Hales, 36, is accused of killing Daleen Bossein 2004 and then hiding her body in a secluded rural area outside Saskatoon.

His trial began in May before Queen's Bench Justice Gerald Allbright.

A key part of the case included evidence from a police investigation tactic known as a Mr. Big sting. How that evidence is used in a criminal trial was part of a major ruling from the Supreme Court of Canada in August.

That led to a number of procedural moves at the Hales trial, including an application by his defence lawyer to reopen the trial so additional evidence, concerning Hales's mental state during interactions with police, could be admitted. The Crown prosecutor opposed the motion.

On Thursday, Justice Allbright ruled he will not reopen the trial for new evidence.

However, although he has heard final submissions from the lawyers Allbright said the case will continue Nov. 14 when lawyers may present another batch of final submissions, taking into account the ruling of the Supreme Court.

Hales was charged in 2008, four years after Bosse disappeared, when he led undercover police officers to her body.

The officers were posing as criminals in a Mr. Big sting.