A Superior Court judge agreed to hear arguments yesterday in a potentially precedent-setting Internet privacy case involving a one-time beer commercial actor charged with child porn offences.
Robert Norman Smith played an angry Scotsman in ads for Alexander Keith’s beer until he was charged in 2006.
As his trial was set to begin this week, his lawyer launched a constitutional challenge of the search warrant that led to his arrest. Lawyer Cindy Wasser says her client’s privacy was violated when Internet provider Bell Canada gave his name and address to Toronto police.
The action is believed to be the first Ontario Superior Court challenge of its kind. Police allege Smith’s computer contained more than 200 images of graphic sex involving children as young as 12-months.
