Mountie knew how to avoid impaired driving charges: Crown
Posted February 13, 2012 5:23 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
NEW WESTMINSTER (NEWS1130) – The Crown claims an RCMP officer charged with obstructing justice after being involved in a fatal crash that killed a 21-year-old man over three years ago knew how to avoid impaired driving charges.
Cpl. Benjamin “Monty” Robinson was off duty when his Jeep collided with Orion Hutchinson’s motorcycle at the intersection of Gilchrist Drive and Sixth Ave. in Tsawwassen in late October, 2008.
He has pleaded not guilty.
Robinson is said to have told police he went home and took two shots of vodka before returning to the scene, although the Crown says the defence is trying to have some of those statements excluded.
Delta Police had recommended Robinson be charged with impaired driving causing death but the Crown decided the evidence wasn’t solid enough and opted for the obstruction of justice charge instead.
Crown lawyer Kris Pechet says Robinson qualified as a breathalyzer technician years before the crash while a witness will testify overhearing Robinson telling others at a 2007 Christmas party how to get around impaired driving charges, either using mouthwash or going home or to a bar and having several shots to calm one’s nerves before returning to the scene, as he is said to have done.
The first witness in his judge-alone trial, a woman who hosted Robinson at a kids’ party just before the crash, says he didn’t appear drunk when he left her home with his kids. She says she asked Robinson to pick up alcohol for the adults before the party and saw him holding several drinks but she didn’t count how many.
A second witness testified the driver of the Jeep involved in the crash tried to give his driver’s licence to him at the scene and did not appear intoxicated, while a third witness told the court the Jeep driver said to him, “I gotta get my kids outta here, this is gross,” before handing him his licence and walking away quickly with two children.
Hutchinson’s mother, Judith, sobbed in court as the witnesses described the crash scene and attempts by passersby to perform CPR on her son.
Earlier outside court, Hutchinson said she is outraged the case has taken three-and-a-half years to get to trial, “During which time, this person [Robinson] has continued to receive full pay and benefits while we suffered.
“Regardless of the outcome, nothing can make our lives less painful,” she said through tears while speaking to reporters. “We hope that the outcome of the trial ensures this individual is not permitted to continue in a position of public trust, given his track record. We feel that would be an utter and complete travesty.”
Jury selection had initially been set at BC Supreme Court for this morning, but last month Robinson chose to be tried by a judge alone. He has pleaded not guilty.
Robinson was the senior officer on scene when Robert Dziekanski died at Vancouver International Airport after Mounties stunned him with a Taser numerous times in October, 2007.
