On Monday, Justice Michael March ruled in favour of a Mistrial motion brought forward by the lawyers for four Renfrew residents who were charged with more than 200 offences linked to a break and enter crime spree that rocked the Ottawa Valley in 2017. Brandon, Jacob and Alisha Thomson walked out of the Pembroke courthouse with all charges stayed, while Andrew MacDonald remained in custody on other matters. Justice March said Section 11(b) of the Charter of Rights applied in this case citing the length of the proceedings exceeded the 18-month threshold established by the Supreme Court of Canada. Full coverage in this week’s Leader.