Copied from: Travesty of Justice - BC Riders Motorcycle Community
News Link here: Education For The Driving Masses: RCMP officer Monty Robinson charged with drunk driving death of Orion Hutchinson, was also involved in famed BC airport taser death
Mountie Monty Robinson left crash scene then drank alcohol as Orion Hutchinson lay dying
Robinson most senior of four RCMP officers involved in Tasering death of Polish immigrant Robert Dziekanski at Vancouver International Airport in 2007 By Katie Mercer, The Province December 3, 2009
While Orion Hutchinson lay dying, Monty Robinson raced home and had two stiff drinks, but that’s not enough to penalize him with a stronger charge.
Simon Fraser University criminologist David MacAlister raised questions Wednesday as to why Cpl. Benjamin “Monty” Robinson was not charged under Sec. 252 of the criminal code — failure to stop at the scene of an accident causing death.
The offence carries a maximum penalty of life in prison — the same as impaired driving causing death.
“It sounded like this charge seems to most closely fit the facts of the case,” MacAlister said.
“He did stop and give his driver’s license but the section also requires you to provide assistance and based on what I’ve heard, there isn’t any indication he did that.”
Delta police recommended charges of impaired driving causing death be laid against Cpl. Benjamin “Monty” Robinson for the death of Orion Hutchinson, 21.
However, the attorney-general’s office charged the Mountie Tuesday with the lesser charge of obstruction of justice for his alleged actions after the collision, citing lack of evidence.
The obstruction charge, which carries no minimum sentence, has a maximum of 10 years.
Neil MacKenzie, Criminal Justice Branch spokesman, said there was not enough evidence to support impaired-driving charges nor failure to stop at the scene of an accident.
“That was among the charges that the branch considered . . . it did not meet our charge assessment standard,” Mackenzie said, declining to elaborate further.
Under Sec. 252 of the criminal code, a failure to stop includes an accident where the driver fails to stop to escape civil or criminal liability, or provide his name and address, as well as where a person has been injured and appears to require assistance and none is offered.
While the Crown is not commenting on the case as it is before the courts, MacAlister pondered whether the obstruction of justice charge stems from Robinson’s knowledge of the law.
“By virtue of the fact that he knew the law and he knew what the police had to do to put a case together, for him to make the decision to go home have a couple drinks, he may have known that could interfere with their ability to get a breathalyzer test,” MacAlister said.
“I think it’s that conduct he engaged in after the accident that constituted the obstruction.
“It’s a very serious incident and it calls into question his integrity and how honesty and forthright he is.”
On Oct. 25, 2008, Robinson’s Jeep crashed into Hutchinson’s motorcycle at a Tsawwassen intersection. Robinson, who was off-duty at the time, identified himself to witnesses, then left the scene with his two kids, without checking on the dying Hutchinson.
In March, in a bid to have his driving ban overturned, Robinson told a B.C. Supreme Court that he had two shots of vodka at home before returning to the scene of the accident, where he then failed a breathalyzer test.
The court rejected his version of events.
Robinson is the most senior of four Mounties involved in the Tasering death of Polish immigrant Robert Dziekanski at Vancouver International Airport in 2007. The Crown has decided not to lay any charges.
Robinson is scheduled to appear in Surrey Provincial Court on Dec. 8.
© Copyright (c) The Province
For Immediate Release:
The B.C. Coalition of Motorcyclists is extremely disturbed by the relatively minor charge laid against RCMP officer Monty Robinson stemming from Orion Hutchinson's death. The Coalition strongly feels that either the more serious charges ought to be pursued by Crown or there should be complete and transparent disclosure indicating the exact reasons why such charges are not appropriate.
Yesterday's press release on the matter was woefully inadequate and the motorcycling community can’t help but feel the outcome would be different had the situation been “Motorcyclist kills RCMP officer, drunk driving suspected”. The RCMP and the Legal system depend, in a large part, on the trust and faith placed in them by the public. The Coalition is eagerly awaiting a timely response from both the RCMP and the Crown.
Adele Tompkins, executive director
B.C. Coalition of Motorcyclists
Email: [email protected]
(604) 580-0111
PEACEFUL Rally organized by a fellow motorcyclist.
Surrey Provincial Court
14340 57th Avenue
Surrey, BC
V3X 1B2
December 8,2009
12 Noon
Main Lobby
Wear your Motorcycle jacket
News Link here: Education For The Driving Masses: RCMP officer Monty Robinson charged with drunk driving death of Orion Hutchinson, was also involved in famed BC airport taser death
Mountie Monty Robinson left crash scene then drank alcohol as Orion Hutchinson lay dying
Robinson most senior of four RCMP officers involved in Tasering death of Polish immigrant Robert Dziekanski at Vancouver International Airport in 2007 By Katie Mercer, The Province December 3, 2009
While Orion Hutchinson lay dying, Monty Robinson raced home and had two stiff drinks, but that’s not enough to penalize him with a stronger charge.
Simon Fraser University criminologist David MacAlister raised questions Wednesday as to why Cpl. Benjamin “Monty” Robinson was not charged under Sec. 252 of the criminal code — failure to stop at the scene of an accident causing death.
The offence carries a maximum penalty of life in prison — the same as impaired driving causing death.
“It sounded like this charge seems to most closely fit the facts of the case,” MacAlister said.
“He did stop and give his driver’s license but the section also requires you to provide assistance and based on what I’ve heard, there isn’t any indication he did that.”
Delta police recommended charges of impaired driving causing death be laid against Cpl. Benjamin “Monty” Robinson for the death of Orion Hutchinson, 21.
However, the attorney-general’s office charged the Mountie Tuesday with the lesser charge of obstruction of justice for his alleged actions after the collision, citing lack of evidence.
The obstruction charge, which carries no minimum sentence, has a maximum of 10 years.
Neil MacKenzie, Criminal Justice Branch spokesman, said there was not enough evidence to support impaired-driving charges nor failure to stop at the scene of an accident.
“That was among the charges that the branch considered . . . it did not meet our charge assessment standard,” Mackenzie said, declining to elaborate further.
Under Sec. 252 of the criminal code, a failure to stop includes an accident where the driver fails to stop to escape civil or criminal liability, or provide his name and address, as well as where a person has been injured and appears to require assistance and none is offered.
While the Crown is not commenting on the case as it is before the courts, MacAlister pondered whether the obstruction of justice charge stems from Robinson’s knowledge of the law.
“By virtue of the fact that he knew the law and he knew what the police had to do to put a case together, for him to make the decision to go home have a couple drinks, he may have known that could interfere with their ability to get a breathalyzer test,” MacAlister said.
“I think it’s that conduct he engaged in after the accident that constituted the obstruction.
“It’s a very serious incident and it calls into question his integrity and how honesty and forthright he is.”
On Oct. 25, 2008, Robinson’s Jeep crashed into Hutchinson’s motorcycle at a Tsawwassen intersection. Robinson, who was off-duty at the time, identified himself to witnesses, then left the scene with his two kids, without checking on the dying Hutchinson.
In March, in a bid to have his driving ban overturned, Robinson told a B.C. Supreme Court that he had two shots of vodka at home before returning to the scene of the accident, where he then failed a breathalyzer test.
The court rejected his version of events.
Robinson is the most senior of four Mounties involved in the Tasering death of Polish immigrant Robert Dziekanski at Vancouver International Airport in 2007. The Crown has decided not to lay any charges.
Robinson is scheduled to appear in Surrey Provincial Court on Dec. 8.
© Copyright (c) The Province
For Immediate Release:
The B.C. Coalition of Motorcyclists is extremely disturbed by the relatively minor charge laid against RCMP officer Monty Robinson stemming from Orion Hutchinson's death. The Coalition strongly feels that either the more serious charges ought to be pursued by Crown or there should be complete and transparent disclosure indicating the exact reasons why such charges are not appropriate.
Yesterday's press release on the matter was woefully inadequate and the motorcycling community can’t help but feel the outcome would be different had the situation been “Motorcyclist kills RCMP officer, drunk driving suspected”. The RCMP and the Legal system depend, in a large part, on the trust and faith placed in them by the public. The Coalition is eagerly awaiting a timely response from both the RCMP and the Crown.
Adele Tompkins, executive director
B.C. Coalition of Motorcyclists
Email: [email protected]
(604) 580-0111
PEACEFUL Rally organized by a fellow motorcyclist.
Surrey Provincial Court
14340 57th Avenue
Surrey, BC
V3X 1B2
December 8,2009
12 Noon
Main Lobby
Wear your Motorcycle jacket
