Hamilton cop appealing conviction, sentence in gun-planting case

A Hamilton police officer who wasconvicted of perjury and obstruction of justiceafter he "encouraged" a source to plant a gun at a suspected drug trafficker's house is appealing his conviction and sentence in Toronto court.

Det.-Const. Robert Hansen was sentenced to five years in prison on the charges, which Superior Court Justice Catrina Braid called an example of "vigilante justice".

Defence attorney Greg Lafontaine said Wednesday that Hansen has filed notices of appeal to both overturn the conviction, and, if that doesn't happen, to reduce the sentence.

• READ MORE:'Vigilante' Hamilton cop sentenced to 5 years in gun-planting case
• READ MORE:Guilty: Hamilton cop 'encouraged' informant to plant gun at suspect's home

'Optimistic'

He spent several days in custody but is now out on bail pending the outcome of that appeal a process that could take months or even more than a year.

Lafontaine said Hansen is "disappointed with the result" of the case but is "optimistic" that the appeals will turn out in his favour.

"He has faith in the system," Lafontaine said.

Lafontaine said the defence will argue that Hansen's "credibility was assessed in a way that was unfair at trial."

Crown attorneys PeterScruttonand MollyFlanaganhad asked the judgeto issue a sentence of six years in jail as a strong message of "denunciation and deterrent" for any law enforcement officers tempted to act similarly.

As of hearing the sentence,Hamilton Police Service Chief Eric Girt invoked Police Services Act powers tosuspend the officer without pay, effective immediately.

kelly.bennett@cbc.ca | @kellyrbennett