Vice Media challenges RCMP demand for reporter materials

Ontario's top court is hearing a case that pits mediafreedoms against the ability of police to investigate seriouscrimes. A lawyer for Vice Media is arguing a lower court judge failed tobalance those competing interests.

At issue is an RCMP demand that a Vice Media reporter turn overbackground records related to articles he did on an accusedterrorist.

The lawyer says police have all the evidence they need and don'tneed to force Vice to hand over the records.

The accused in question is Farah Shirdon, of Calgary, who wascharged in 2015 in absentia with various terror-related offences.

RCMP say they need the Vice materials to prove Shirdon was in Iraq and to pursue their investigation against him.