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An Ontario judge has ruled against a publication ban that would have prevented the media from reporting on a court statement from MPP Lisa MacLeod.

Crown prosecutors sought the publication ban in the criminal harassment trial of Rebecca Reid, the Ottawa mother of a child with autism who sent Macleod more than 100 emails and several voice-mail messages that are “angry and threatening in nature.”

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According to the Crown, MacLeod wanted to submit a victim impact statement, which typically will be considered by the judge when deciding on an appropriate sentence. Reid is currently awaiting a sentencing decision.

Her lawyer, Oliver Abergel, and Postmedia lawyer Richard Dearden of Gowling WLG both opposed the Crown’s request for a publication ban.

“No witness or victim can obtain a sealing or non-publication order by telling the court that they will not testify unless the court agrees to their secrecy conditions,” Dearden said following the ruling.