Supreme Court rules ‘belief’ requirement in child luring law is unconstitutional

OTTAWA — The Supreme Court of Canada says a provision of the country’s internet child luring laws is unconstitutional and is ordering a new trial for a Toronto-area man.

Douglas Morrison posted an ad on Craigslist in 2013 seeking “a little girl to meet” and then had sexually explicit conversations by computer with a police officer claiming to be a 14-year-old girl.

Morrison said during his trial he believed the respondent was an adult and they were role-playing, but he was convicted nonetheless.