EDMONTON - Telecommunications giant Telus (TSX:T)(TSX:T.A) is off the hook on allegations that it criminally withheld information in a high-profile serial killer investigation.
The Crown has withdrawn a Criminal Code charge alleging the company failed to produce court-ordered cellphone records relating to an investigation into the deaths of several Edmonton and area prostitutes that may be centred on a single killer.
"This was the result of a communications error within Telus," company spokesman Shawn Hall said Friday from Vancouver.
"Telus has addressed the communications errors that allowed this issue to happen, so it's never going to happen again.
"We're just pleased to be putting this issue behind us so that we can continue our longstanding partnership with law enforcement agencies."
In exchange for the charge being dropped, Telus ran an ad in Wednesday's edition of The Edmonton Journal acknowledging the error and reiterating that it has made changes "to better ensure that all lawful access requests are responded to in an appropriate fashion."
Hall declined to discuss the specifics of the communications breakdown, saying it involves personnel issues.
A conviction would have carried a maximum fine of $250,000 or a six-month jail term.
The charge arose when Project Kare -- a task force investigating the deaths and disappearances of dozens of sex trade workers in the Edmonton area -- served Telus in July 2005 with a court order to produce cellphone records related to one person.
When Telus didn't produce them, it was charged under the Criminal Code with failing to comply with a production order.
The company said at the time it was a miscommunication and that it didn't intend to defy the order. It immediately provided the information.
Nevertheless, the Crown proceeded with the case, saying it was necessary to do so in the public interest.
David Dear, a spokesman for Alberta's Justice Department, said Friday the charge was dropped because prosecutors felt public interest has been served and that there was little to gain from proceeding.
He said since the charge, Telus has promptly responded to further police requests.
"The time and cost of a (further) prosecution aren't really justified," said Dear.
The trial began last fall in Edmonton Court of Queen's Bench. It was set to resume this week when the charge was dropped Tuesday.
