by A judge is due to rule today whether Regional Police abused the charter rights of a Sydney man charged in a prostitution sting.
73 year-old John Russell Mercer was one of 27 men charged with soliciting a prostitute in operation “Operation John Be Gone.”
Female police officers posed as prostitutes during the undercover sting in downtown Sydney.
Mercer’s lawyer, T.J. McKeough, argued in court in May that his client was entrapped by police.
He adds there was also a public shaming component in police actions that saw the names of all those arrested released to the media.
Prosecutor Andre Arseneau says police were simply enforcing Canada’s new prostitution laws with an undercover operation that was appropriate.
Judge Brian Williston reserved his decision until today.