Skip to content
Join our Newsletter

Charges stayed in Anderson case

No future court dates for former Whistler councillor
news_whistler4-1-23628b267c3dcd5d
CHARGES STAYED Charges against former Whistler councillor Steve Anderson were stayed by the Crown on Nov. 20. File photo

Assault charges against former Whistler Councillor Steve Anderson have been stayed by the Crown.

The matter was wrapped up in Pemberton court on Nov. 20, and there are no future court appearances for Anderson.

The charges—two counts of assault laid on Aug. 13—stemmed from an alleged incident in Pemberton on Aug. 2, though details remain scarce.

Crown Counsel Joseph Marin declined to provide specific information on the case.

"Crowns constantly revisit their charge approval standard at every step, and I concluded the charge approval standard was no longer met," Marin told Pique, of why the charges were stayed.

Reached by phone, Anderson also declined to provide specifics, but said it was unfortunate that a small incident took so long to work its way through the courts (partly because of changes of Crown counsel during summer holidays).

"It's too bad it took so long for the Crown to realize there was nothing there," Anderson said. "Should have never been brought forward in the first place, but such is life."

Anderson took a leave of absence from the council table after the charges, sitting out the last two months of his term and missing out on running for re-election on Oct. 20.

"I would have liked to retain a seat on council, although unable to get traction on my proposals for the many issues we faced last term," Anderson said. "I am of the opinion (Mayor) Jack (Crompton) will lead a collaborative team—one that I would have loved to be part of."