Criminal Justice Branch Media Statements for 2013

December 20, 2013

Charge Approved Against Police Officer in Motor Vehicle Collision
Victoria - The Criminal Justice Branch has approved a charge under the B.C. Motor Vehicle Act against Constable Graham Bosa of the New Westminster Police Department. The charge results from an on duty incident that occurred on August 13, 2013.

December 19, 2013

Dangerous Driving Charge Approved Against Police Officer
Victoria - The Criminal Justice Branch has approved a charge of Dangerous Driving against Constable Micah Chan of the R.C.M.P. in relation to an on duty incident on June 20, 2013 in Salmon Arm, in which he allegedly engaged in a high speed pursuit of another vehicle. The incident was investigated by the Independent Investigations Office (IIO).

November 27, 2013

Stay of Proceedings Directed in Care Home Death
Victoria - In August 2013, John “Jack” Daymouth Furman was charged with second degree murder in the death of William May. Both Mr. Furman and Mr. May were residing in a care facility in Vernon. The Criminal Justice Branch (the "Branch") has concluded that a prosecution against Mr. Furman is no longer required in the public interest. As such, the murder charge was stayed by Crown Counsel in court on November 27, 2013.

October 28, 2013

No Criminal Charge Approved in the Death of Paul Boyd
Victoria - The Criminal Justice Branch, Ministry of Justice, announced that independent Special Prosecutor Mark R. Jetté has concluded that no criminal charge will be approved against Constable Lee Chipperfield of the Vancouver Police Department in connection with the shooting death of Paul Boyd on August 13, 2007. A Clear Statement explaining the decision of the Special Prosecutor in greater detail is attached to this release.

October 21, 2013

Crown Files Appeals in Two Cases
Victoria - The Criminal Justice Branch announced today that it has filed appeals on behalf of the Crown with the Court of Appeal for British Columbia in two separate cases: R. v. A.K. Hecimovic and R. v. D.A. McPherson.

October 15, 2013

Stanley Cup Riot Charge Update
Victoria - The Criminal Justice Branch of the Ministry of Justice, British Columbia’s prosecution service, confirms that charges have been approved and sworn against an additional 19 accused persons in connection with the Stanley Cup Riot on June 15, 2011; 17 adults and 2 young persons.

October 4, 2013

No Charges In Fatal Accident at Craigmont Mine
Victoria - Following thorough reviews of the available evidence by three senior Crown Counsel, the Criminal Justice Branch of the Ministry of Justice has concluded that no criminal charges will be approved in connection with the death of a worker at the Craigmont Mine near Merritt.

September 26, 2013

Appointment of Special Prosecutor - Alleged Violations of the Provincial Election Act

Victoria - The Criminal Justice Branch, Ministry of Justice (the Branch), announced that a Special Prosecutor has been appointed under the Crown Counsel Act, R.S.B.C 1996, c.87, to assist police with an ongoing investigation into alleged contraventions of the provincial Election Act.

August 14, 2013

No Charge Approved in Use of Force Involving Police Dog
Victoria - The Criminal Justice Branch of the Ministry of Justice, British Columbia’s prosecution service, announced that the Branch has not approved any criminal charges against a member of the R.C.M.P. Police Service Dog Unit in connection with the arrest of a male suspect in North Vancouver on December 13, 2012.

August 8, 2013

Charges Approved Against Officer Involved in Cranbrook Shooting

Victoria - The Criminal Justice Branch of the Ministry of Justice, British Columbia’s prosecution service, announced that it has approved charges against Constable Richard Drought of the R.C.M.P in connection with an incident alleged to have occurred in Cranbrook on October 2, 2012. Charges were approved following a review of an investigative report forwarded to the Branch by the Independent Investigations Office.

August 1, 2013

Stanley Cup Riot Charge Update
Victoria - The Criminal Justice Branch, British Columbia’s prosecution service, confirms that charges have been approved and sworn against an additional 29 accused persons, 27 adults and two young persons, in connection with the Stanley Cup riot on June 15, 2011.

July 29, 2013

Criminal Justice Branch Declines Its Consent to Schoenborn's Request for a Transfer to Manitoba
Victoria - The Criminal Justice Branch, Ministry of Justice (the "Branch"), announced that it has declined to provide its consent to Allan Dwayne Schoenborn's request for a transfer to a forensic psychiatric facility in Manitoba. As a result, he will remain at the Forensic Psychiatric Hospital in Port Coquitlam, British Columbia pending further review of his detention by the British Columbia Review Board.

July 26, 2013

Special Prosecutor Appointed In Abbotsford Investigation
Victoria - The Criminal Justice Branch of the Ministry of Justice (the “Branch”) announced that Joseph M. Doyle has been appointed as a Special Prosecutor in relation to the matter of Armand Charles Belisle, Dylan Michel Majorel, Jakob Mosterd, and Samantha Dawn Patenaude, B.C. Provincial Court file 79669 – in Abbotsford. The accused are charged in relation to an incident on July 20, 2013 in Abbotsford involving an alleged breaking and entering, and robbery at the residence of Ryan Plecas.

July 22, 2013

No Charge Approved in Use of Force by Police in Port Alberni
Victoria - The Criminal Justice Branch of the Ministry of Justice announced that following a careful analysis of all available evidence, the Branch has decided not to approve any criminal charges against members of the Port Alberni detachment of the R.C.M.P. in connection with the arrest of a female on February 15, 2013.

July 18, 2013

Crown Files Appeal in Three Cases
Victoria - The Criminal Justice Branch, Ministry of Justice, announced that it recently filed appeals on behalf of the Crown with the Court of Appeal for British Columbia in three separate cases. Each case has attracted public attention and/or engages matters of public interest and the Branch considers it appropriate to provide a status update.

July 9, 2013

Update on Status of Bountiful Investigation
Victoria - On July 3, 2013 independent Special Prosecutor Peter Wilson, QC received an investigative report prepared by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (R.C.M.P.) in relation to a portion of their extensive investigation into individuals associated with the community of Bountiful. After consulting with the R.C.M.P. and Mr. Wilson, and in view of the ongoing public attention to matters relating to Bountiful, the Criminal Justice Branch has concluded that it is appropriate to issue a public statement in relation to this development.

June 28, 2013

Criminal Justice Branch Releases First Annual Report on Children and Youth Victims
Victoria - The Criminal Justice Branch of the Ministry of Justice released its first Annual Report on Children and Youth Victims. This report responds to recommendations made by the BC Representative for Children and Youth in a March 2012 report entitled: “The Impact of Criminal Justice Funding Decisions on Children in BC”, which was presented to the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia under Section 20 of the Representative for Children and Youth Act.

June 25, 2013

Special Prosecutor Appointed to Review Shooting of Paul Boyd
Victoria - The Criminal Justice Branch of the Ministry of Justice (the “Branch”) confirmed that Mark Jetté has been appointed as a Special Prosecutor in relation to an incident on August 13, 2007 in which Paul Boyd was shot and killed by a member of the Vancouver Police Department.

June 10, 2013

Stanley Cup Riot Charge Update
Victoria - As the two year anniversary of the Stanley Cup riot is approaching, the Criminal Justice Branch considers it in the public interest to provide an update on the status of the related prosecution files. Between May 1, 2013 and June 5, 2013, criminal charges were approved and sworn against an additional 14 adults and two youths in connection with the Stanley Cup riot.

June 6, 2013

No Charge Approved For In-custody Death in Penticton RCMP cells
Victoria - The Criminal Justice Branch of the Ministry of Justice announced that after a thorough review, the Branch has concluded that the available evidence does not support a substantial likelihood of conviction for failing to provide necessaries of life (s. 215 of the Criminal Code) in relation to the in-custody death of Steven Joseph Scott at the Penticton R.C.M.P. detachment in August 2012.

May 27, 2013

No Charge Approved in IIO investigation of Campbell River Motorcycle Crash
Victoria - The Criminal Justice Branch (the Branch) has received an investigative file from the Independent Investigations Office (the IIO) in relation to an incident on December 2, 2012 in which a male operating a motorcycle in Campbell River was injured after losing control of the motorcycle and sliding into a police vehicle. After a thorough review of the material provided by the IIO, the Branch has concluded that the available evidence does not support a substantial likelihood of conviction for either a criminal offence or an offence under the British Columbia Motor Vehicle Act against the R.C.M.P. officer who was operating the police vehicle. As such, no charges will be approved against this officer.

May 9, 2013

Delayed Announcement of Appointment and Decision of Special Prosecutor
Victoria - The Criminal Justice Branch of the Ministry of Justice announced that Special Prosecutor Robert Bruneau has approved charges against Darryl Bruce McDowell in connection with allegations that he threatened and criminally harassed an employee of the Criminal Justice Branch as a result of the employee's work on behalf of the Branch.

May 2, 2013

Appointment and Decision of Special Prosecutor Announced
Victoria - The Criminal Justice Branch of the Ministry of Justice announced that a Special Prosecutor, Christopher M. Considine, QC, has approved a charge of theft under $5000.00, contrary to section 334(b) of the Criminal Code, against Sgt. Derek N. Brassington of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

May 1, 2013

Stanley Cup Riot Charge Update
Victoria - The Criminal Justice Branch, Ministry of Justice, confirms that criminal charges have been approved and sworn against an additional 19 persons in connection with the Stanley Cup Riot.

May 1, 2013

Crown Initiates Appeal from Sentence in William Mastop Case
Victoria - The Criminal Justice Branch, Ministry of Justice, announced that on April 29, 2013 it filed an Application for Leave to Appeal from Sentence in the case of R. v. William Jacob Mastop.

April 16, 2013

Court of Appeal Decision Released In Tracy Dawn Smith Case
Victoria - On December 21, 2012 the Criminal Justice Branch announced that it had filed an Application for Leave to Appeal from Sentence in the case of R. v. Tracy Dawn Smith, 2012 BCPC 0440. Ms. Smith pleaded guilty to impaired driving causing the death of Janarthan Mahenthiran. Today, the British Columbia Court of Appeal released its decision.

April 5, 2013

No Charge Approved in Allegation of Excessive Force by Police in Creston
Victoria - The Criminal Justice Branch of the Ministry of Justice announced that following a careful analysis of all available evidence, the Branch has decided not to approve a criminal charge against a member of the Creston detachment of the R.C.M.P. in connection with an allegation of excessive force used on October 6, 2012.

March 11, 2013

Stanley Cup Riot Charge Update
Victoria - The Criminal Justice Branch, Ministry of Justice, confirms that criminal charges have been approved and sworn against an additional 33 persons in connection with the Stanley Cup Riot. These new charges involve 23 adults and 10 young persons.

March 6, 2013

No Charge Approved in Allegation of Excessive Force by Police
Victoria - The Criminal Justice Branch of the Ministry of Justice announced that following a careful analysis of the material provided by the investigating agency, the Branch has decided not to approve a criminal charge against a member of the Terrace detachment of the R.C.M.P. in connection with his alleged use of force against William Watts on May 15, 2012.

February 20, 2013

Special Prosecutor Concludes Miscarriage of Justice Has Occurred
Victoria - The Criminal Justice Branch, Ministry of Justice, announced that in September 2011, the then Assistant Deputy Attorney General for the Branch appointed Peter Wilson, QC as a Special Prosecutor to review a 2005 conviction for sexual assault against Gurdev Singh Dhillon. The review was initiated after the Branch became aware of evidence that was not made available to Crown Counsel or to the defence at the time of Mr. Dhillon’s trial, or on his subsequent appeal from conviction. In light of the nature of the evidence, the Branch decided that an independent review of Mr. Dhillon’s conviction was in the public interest, to determine whether a miscarriage of justice had occurred. The Special Prosecutor has completed the review. Based on his consideration of the material as a whole, and in light of the issues raised at Mr. Dhillon’s trial, the Special Prosecutor has concluded that a miscarriage of justice occurred.

January 18, 2013

Special Prosecutor’s Work on Bountiful – Status Update
Victoria - On January 17, 2012, then Assistant Deputy Attorney General Robert W.G Gillen, QC appointed Peter Wilson, QC as a Special Prosecutor in connection with an investigation into potential offences involving individuals associated with the community of Bountiful. The police investigation remains ongoing and includes an extensive review of a very substantial amount of information. While police have consulted the Special Prosecutor on issues that have arisen during the investigation, to date no Report to Crown Counsel has yet been submitted for his review on possible charges.

January 7, 2013

Delayed Announcement of Direction under the Crown Counsel Act and Appointment of Special Prosecutor
Victoria - The Criminal Justice Branch of the Ministry of Justice announced the 2009 appointment of Dennis Murray, QC as a Special Prosecutor in the matter of Mukhtiar Singh Panghali.