And finally… sob story

Witnesses and complainants have been told to bring their own water and tissues to court after a cash-strapped courthouse scrapped its provisions.

The money-saving move applies across the board, meaning police, prosecutors and defence lawyers will also be denied free water and tissues.

The decision was announced by court administrators in the Canadian province of Alberta yesterday, Global News reports.

Ian Savage, president of Canada’s Criminal Defence Lawyers Association, called the decision “silliness at the extreme”.

He hit out at the idea that complainants in serious cases such as sexual assault cases would be denied tissues while “recounting trauma”.

Mr Savage added: “The court system, like any other public system, has people coming into it that have basic human needs.

“Just like toilet paper, running water and soap in the washrooms of the courthouse, individuals that come to the courthouse to participate in the justice system — be it the lawyers, the judges or witnesses — need to drink water in order to carry on in a normal function.”

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