MAJOR FLAWS IN CANADA'S CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM WERE REVEALED BY THE BOMBING OF AN AIR INDIA AIRLINER IN 1985 THAT KILLED 329 PEOPLE, THE JUDGE HEADING AN OFFICIAL INQUIRY INTO THE ATTACK SAID ON WEDNESDAY AS THE INQUIRY OPENED, ACCORDING TO REUTERS. AIR INDIA FLIGHT 182, ORIGINATING IN CANADA, BLEW UP OFF THE ATLANTIC COAST OF IRELAND ON JUNE 23, 1985, IN WHAT WAS THE DEADLIEST EVER BOMBING OF A PASSENGER AIRLINER. A BOMB INTENDED TO BRING DOWN A SECOND AIR INDIA FLIGHT EXPLODED ALMOST SIMULTANEOUSLY AT TOKYO'S NARITA AIRPORT, KILLING TWO PEOPLE. THE INITIAL CANADIAN CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION INTO THE ATTACKS WAS MARKED BY CONTROVERSY, INCLUDING CHARGES THAT INFIGHTING BETWEEN VARIOUS BRANCHES OF THE JUSTICE SYSTEM HAD LED TO THE DESTRUCTION OF POTENTIALLY KEY EVIDENCE. TWO MEN EVENTUALLY WENT ON TRIAL FOR THE BOMBINGS BUT WERE FOUND NOT GUILTY LAST YEAR AFTER THE JUDGE RULED THAT PROSECUTORS HAD FAILED TO PROVE THEIR CASE. "TO CONCLUDE ONLY THAT THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM HAS TO DATE FAILED THE FAMILIES OF AIR INDIA VICTIMS FALLS SHORT OF THE PROBLEM. IT FAILED ALL CANADIANS. THE SYSTEM FAILED ALL CANADIANS," SAID RETIRED SUPREME COURT JUSTICE JOHN MAJOR, WHO IS LEADING THE INQUIRY. "THE PERSONAL LOSSES AND UNSPEAKABLE TRAGEDIES ARE THE MOST IMMEDIATE AND VISIBLE ASPECT OF OUR LOSS. THE SYSTEMIC WEAKNESSES THAT HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED ARE LESS VISIBLE, BUT POTENTIALLY AS FATAL AS WHAT HAPPENED," HE WROTE IN A OPENING STATEMENT.
