Crown narrows charges in Project South police corruption case

Crown prosecutors have reduced the number of charges they plan to pursue against eight people accused in the Project South police corruption investigation. The case, which involves allegations tied to organized crime and misconduct among police and civilians, is moving forward in Ontario Superior Court. Court documents show the charges were trimmed by 33 in total from the original police allegations. Prosecutors are also using direct indictments in several cases, which means the matters will go straight to trial without a preliminary inquiry. Among those affected are Toronto police Const. Timothy Barnhardt and Brian Da Costa, whose indictments now include fewer counts than their initial arrests. Prosecutors have not withdrawn the original charges, but legal experts say narrowing an indictment is a common step meant to focus the case on the charges the Crown believes it can prove most effectively.