Author Stephen Williams Pleads Guilty
Toronto - The Freedom of Expression (FOE) Committee of the Book and Periodical Council (BPC) is pleased to see a resolution to the government of Ontario’s criminal proceedings against author Stephen Williams.
Under the terms of an agreement reached between Williams and the Ontario Attorney General’s office on January 14th, Williams pleaded guilty to one charge of violating a publication ban on information connected to the murder trial of Paul Bernardo. Williams will serve three years’ probation and perform community service.
“While the FOE Committee and the BPC are pleased that Stephen and his partner, author Marsha Boulton, will be able to put this difficult time behind them and continue their lives, it is troubling that two authors were subjected to such heavy-handed prosecution,” said Ron Brown, past chair of the FOE Committee. “We believe the excessive actions by the police and Attorney General’s office sends an alarming message to writers who choose to tackle difficult subjects that challenge the actions of those in power.”
The Freedom of Expression Committee has monitored with concern the aggressive and excessive actions of the Ontario Attorney General’s office in this case. Williams’s troubles began several years ago when the police first raided the farm he shares with author Marsha Boulton. Subsequent raids led to the confiscation of Williams’s and Boulton’s computers, and the laying of 97 charges against Williams for allegedly posting banned information on his website.
The Book and Periodical Council represents 28 associations in the writing, editing, publishing, manufacturing, distributing, selling and lending of books and magazines in Canada. Member organizations represent more than 11,000 individuals, institutions and firms. The Freedom of Expression Committee, established in 1978, monitors threats to intellectual freedom in Canada.
For more information, contact Anne McClelland at 416-975-9366 or e-mail
info@bookandperiodicalcouncil.ca.
