Canadian Court Concerns Over Kirpan Lead To Testimony Via Teleconference

In Canada, a Calgary, Alberta judge has ruled on a compromise arrangement to obtain trial testimony by a Sikh man who was originally refused entrance into the Court of Queen's Bench because he refused for religious reasons to remove his kirpan (ceremonial sword). Yesterday's Calgary Herald reports that Justice Bryan Mahoney will now permit Tejinder Singh Sidhu to testify by video conference. Sidhu was a witness to a fatal car crash in 2006. Court security procedures bar anyone taking into court an object that could be used as a weapon.