LATEST NEWS 
April 24, 2006
Former inspector says he’s the victim
WINNIPEG
A former Winnipeg building inspector who was found guilty of demanding bribes from contractors for overlooking safety violations has been granted a new trial.
David John Nikkel was found guilty in October 2004 of breach of trust and attempted breach of trust and given a nine-month conditional sentence.
During his trial, court heard Nikkel would show up at construction sites and ask for favours in return for not reporting bylaw violations.
He received free gravel from one contractor and tried to obtain several other such deals.
“I can’t understand how I was convicted,” a defiant Nikkel told court during his sentencing hearing. “I’m sorry, but I feel I’m the victim here.”
Defence lawyer Ted Crane argued during the trial his client was the victim of vindictive construction supervisors who had falsely accused him of bribery.
Crane suggested the supervisors figured they could get out of making costly upgrades to their job sites — usually involving Nikkel’s request to put up fencing — if they complained about the man’s conduct.
CANADIAN PRESS
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