Keith Fraser is reporting that "A former RCMP officer who was at the centre of a corruption case involving the Surrey Six murder investigation pleaded guilty to several offences Friday but managed to avoid jail time. Derek Brassington pleaded guilty to breach of trust and attempted obstruction of justice and received a conditional sentence of two years less a day to be served in the community. Because of a publication ban, the reasons for the sentence imposed by B.C. Supreme Court Justice Arne Silverman cannot be reported yet."
"The ban extended as well to submissions made by special prosecutor Chris Considine and defence lawyer Ian Donaldson and evidence heard at the court proceeding in a Vancouver courtroom. The conditions in Brassington’s sentence include house arrest, 100 hours of community service and a $10,000 restitution order. The pleas of Brassington, one of four Mounties charged in the case, bring to an end a key chapter in an investigation that stretches back nearly eight years." Oh but does it? Is this chapter really closed?
The publication ban expires after the trial ends. The delays caused by the RCMP cover up of this case set Jamie Bacon free for participating in and orchestrating the Surrey Six where two innocent bystanders were executed. That chapter is not over yet.
This sad saga was about police misconduct in a high profile RCMP murder investigation where unprofessional conduct wasn't the exception it was the norm. These clowns were getting drunk with witnesses, flirting with them and having sex with them. It wasn't just one cop and one witness. It was a climate of unprofessionalism that permeated the entire force let alone unit.
They are the ones that changed the name if IHIT to IHITit.
Lets hope the new federal civilian oversight committee will resolve some of the issues within the RCMP. The behaviour of these officers was disgusting. Of course at the time the local chief wasn't much better, allegedly, and it may have been what led to the actions by these officers. Had a more competent officer been in charge, this might never have happened.
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