TORONTO -- The Supreme Court of Canada has ruled that documents relating to the estate of murdered billionaire couple Honey and Barry Sherman should be unsealed.
In a unanimous decision handed down Friday, the court ruled that the media may access files pertaining to who would inherit the couple’s money and assets.
The estate sought to have the files sealed, arguing that the parties concerned should be spared from further intrusion into their privacy and that the release of the documents could put their safety at risk.
The seal was granted by a judge, however the Toronto Star went to court to challenge it, arguing that it violated the principle of open courts, as well as their constitutional rights of freedom of expression and freedom of the press.
While the Ontario Superior Court of Justice upheld the seal, the paper appealed the decision and won.
The estate appealed to the Supreme Court to maintain the seal in a case that was heard last October. Bell Media and a number of other media outlets took part in the case as interveners.
In the ruling handed down Friday, the Supreme Court said the estate failed to prove that the safety of those associated with the documents would be at risk if they were unsealed. (more...)
Top court orders files tied to Sherman estate unsealed, citing public interest
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