What exactly does a prosecutor do? And whose interests do they represent? Senior prosecutor Christopher McPherson, QC walks us through the role and duties of a prosecutor and the standards that must be met before prosecutors decide to lay a charge. We discuss the importance of prosecutorial independence,  their separation from the investigation and the police, and why prosecutors don't represent the government's or the victims interests. Chris highlights the relationship prosecutors have with criminal defense lawyers and how they also play a key role in the justice system. Lastly, Chris talks about the rare occurrences of wrongful convictions, how new evidence might be discovered and what recourses people have.

Christopher McPherson, QC has been a prosecutor for nearly 22 years and has prosecuted over 40 homicide cases.

If you want to learn more about the rule of law, visit the Law Society’s website at lawsociety.bc.ca. If you liked today’s episode, please subscribe and leave us a review, wherever you get your podcasts. If you have suggestions or comments, send us an email at podcast@lsbc.org