Motorcyclists will continue to apply pressure on the British Columbia justice system to act more forcefully in the case of Crown vs Robinson.
Another "Justice for All" rally will be held at the Surrey courthouse on Jan. 15 at 9 a.m. A rally there on Tuesday drew about 100 people, most of them motorcyclists, and the press.
This case has stung motorcyclists in B.C. and elsewhere. In October 2008, RCMP officer Cpl. Monty Robinson was off-duty when his Jeep struck and killed 21-year-old Orion Hutchinson in Tsawwassen, B.C., near Vancouver.
Robinson left the scene of the crash, and later returned, telling investigators that he had gone for drinks. Police later asked the Crown to charge the Mountie with impaired and dangerous driving causing death, but the Crown declined and charged him instead with obstruction of justice.
Motorcyclists, including the B.C. Coalition of Motorcyclists, have suggested that if the young motorcyclist had killed an RCMP officer, the nature of charges would have been far more severe, and are calling on the provincial government to change the laws.
"What can you do to take action and show your displeasure with the current system?" said the B.C.-C.O.M. in a press release. "Send a letter, email or fax to the Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General, Hon. Kash Heed and the Attorney General, Hon. Michael de Jong, who is also a rider, and call for changes to be made to our justice system."
Robinson was represented by a lawyer and did not show on Tuesday for his first court appearance. The Jan. 15 rally is timed to coincide with his next appearance. Robinson is on paid leave. He was one of four RCMP officers involved in a Tasering death at Vancouver International Airport a year before the collision with Hutchinson.
That would be Irvin. I am guilty of running my mouth based on a single newspaper story. Canada’s catch-and-release justice system is the real issue.
I agree that Mr. Robinson has been a poor representative for the RCMP, but let’s put things in perspective: this is the guy who led the Taser charge on Robert Dziekanski at YVR two years ago; he could hardly have lived a normal life since then, and while that does not justify a drinking-driving collision, the stresses he must have endured might separate him from the vast majority of RCMP officers. Mind you, I still like to make fun of cops; I just don’t think Robinson is a fair example of our national police squad.
Based on this incident and many others, one begins to think it is time to ditch the idea of a national police force and disband the lot. There is too much power in the hands of too few.
I don’t doubt for a moment that the job is dangerous and necessary, but when you combine a job that provides authority and a firearm with personallity types that crave power; abuses are bound to happen.
The good they do is undermined by the actions of their own members.
Thanks for that Mr. McGarvey.I wondered myself but deferred to local knowledge.I am still wondering then as to why no charge for leaving.
I’m afraid leaving the scene does not equate to obstruction of justice, The Dark One’s comment to you is wrong, and your thanks to him misplaced. They have not given particulars yet of the nature of the alleged obstruction, it could be they hope to prove that intentionally drinking when he knew he would face a breath test was an attempt to obstruct, or there may be some other allegation. We’ll have to wait for the trial or a press release to see. Leaving the scene under the Criminal Code requires proof that the intent was to evade civil or criminal liability, not always easy to prove.
So all it takes is two deaths to end your career?
Screw his career, he should be behind bars.
I see.Thanks for setting me straight. Rock On
Hey Irwin,
The issue is with the crown prosecutor. The Delta police, where the accident happened, recommended charges of impaired driving causing death. FWIW, Its my belief that this particular officer’s career is over.
Who dares criticise the almighty RCMP??
Maybe we should have a BC provincial police force so that we would not have cops from eastern Canada coming here.
CityBoy:
Obstruction of justice = leaving the scene
I am still wondering why there was not a charge laid of leaving the scene?Seems like that was already admitted.Perhaps the Crown felt there was also a poor chance for conviction!!
It is encouraging to see this community of motorcyclists being persistent with their protests and drawing more attention to this case.