Jail mistreated accused murderer Bacon

A B.C. Supreme Court judge has blasted officials at the Surrey Pre-trial Centre for violating the rights of a man police have portrayed as a top gang leader.

Justice Mark McEwan says Jamie Bacon has been kept in solitary confinement for 23 hours a day, denied visitors and given limited access to lawyers. He alsohad his telephone conversations monitored and mail delivery disrupted.

Calling this cruel and unusual punishment, McEwan has ordered the prison to restore Bacon's visiting and telephone privileges and ensure his access to lawyers, but he didn't order an end to Bacon's segregation.

McEwan, in a 60,000-word decision issued Wednesday,also accused prison officials of acting as agents for the police in their handling of Bacon, who's one of three men accused of first-degree murder in the killing of six men in Surrey in 2007.