Case against former animal rights activist dropped

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) Legal proceedings against David Barbarash, former spokesman for the Animal Liberation Front, have been dropped and he is anticipating the return of computers and other property.

Barbarash's home in Courtenay was raided July 30 but he was not charged with a crime, and government lawyers recently filed a notice of abandonment in British Columbia Supreme Court, meaning the case will not be pursued.

Barbarash said Tuesday that within a week, he expects the return of two laptop computers, 50 computer discs and about 100 videotapes seized by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

A search warrant was approved by Supreme Court Associate Chief Justice Patrick Dohm after the Mounties were asked by the U.S. Justice Department for help in investigating break-ins and vandalism at three rod and gun clubs in Maine in 1999.

After the break-ins, Barbarash told a reporter in Maine he was informed of the Animal Liberation Front actions but did not know the identities of those who were involved.

On Dec. 15 Supreme Court Justice Elizabeth Bennett ruled that the warrant had been wrongly issued because it was based on ``triple hearsay.''

Barbarash, who was never charged in the Maine incidents, said Tuesday the raid on his home was ``pure harassment.''

He was previously investigated by the Canadian Security Intelligence Service and charged in 1998 with sending letters containing razor blades to hunters and people in the fur industry.

Those charges fizzled when the Mounties balked at disclosing details of the investigation.

With Barbarash as spokesman, the Animal Liberation Front also claimed responsibility for a series of arson attacks on meat plants in Vancouver and Burnaby in December, 2000.

He announced in January he would no longer act as spokesman for the group, saying news reports focused too much on him instead of his message.

(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)