 | Richard "Bob" Hudon, one of the founding members of the Hells Angels in Quebec and three other suspected traffickers were granted a stay of proceedings. Hudon, Simon Harvey, Oscar Lessard and Christian Roberge had been arrested five years ago as part of Operation Vulture and had even pleaded guilty a year ago to the narcotics trafficking charges they faced. The lawyers of the four men sought a stay of proceedings after learning that an informant had lied to police. The informer was fired by the Sûreté du Québec (SQ). "In other words, the prosecutor offered the court a tainted witness he knew not credible, with serious reliability problems and disavowed by the SQ," defense lawyers stated in their motion. |  |
 | Justice François Huot ordered a stay of proceedings on Friday afternoon. After more than 60 months of proceedings, he said it was based on judicial delays. This is the second time that the Crown and police have failed to convict Richard Hudon. His arrest as part of Operation Vulture occurred just months after he obtained a stay of proceedings from the SharQc operation. One by one, the judge brought the three accused before him who were not detained to tell them they were free of all charges. Hudon, who has been in jail since his arrest in November 2011, remained in the dock in handcuffs to hear the decision. "I welcome your request, I order your immediate release, you are a free man," solemnly announced the judge. |
