RCMP Superintendent Says Officers Had to Assume Matters Had Access to Firearms
Thursday, October 17, 2013 @ 1:11 PM
Prince George, B.C. –As the inquest into the death of Greg Matters continued, Superintendent Eric Stubbs, the Commanding Officer for the Prince George detachment of the RCMP was under cross examination this morning by the lawyer for the Matters’ family.
"A man’s home is his castle," said lawyer Cameron Ward, pointing out the legal requirements the RCMP must meet in order to enter private property.
One includes obtaining a search warrant, and though the police were in the process of that, judicial permission had not yet been received.
Another exception includes urgent situation.
Ward said the RCMP were aware Matters was alone in a cabin on the property with his dog and a book, and so the situation was not an emergency.
He also contended the incident leading to the stand-off at the Matters’ farm was not as serious as it was treated, pointing out Greg Matters had never acted on any of his threats.
Stubbs disagreed on both points.
Stubbs testified, though police believed they knew where on the property Matters was, they were not certain. They were also uncertain as to whether or not he had access to firearms. "We had to assume there were firearms," Stubbs said, pointing out that during the negotiation process Matters threatened to come out with a gun.
"Greg Matters made outlandish threats and never acted on them," said Ward. Stubbs testified he took the threats seriously.
He said the pursuit by Greg of his brother, Trevor, could have ended with someone dying. And, when Greg caught Trevor, he assaulted him.
Greg also told police if they didn’t deal with Trevor, he would.
Stubbs added in his dealings with case law, officers have been allowed on private property if they are in the process of getting a warrant. In this case, he said that was happening, and they were there to receive Matters, who was supposed to turn himself in.
Stubbs pointed out threats were made against police coming onto the property as well, and said a discussion was held questioning who Matters might be threatened by, for instance a metre reader whom he might perceive as an undercover officer.
"It’s not defendable if something did happen and we did nothing," he said.
Following Stubbs, the team leader of the ERT is expected to take the stand.
Editor’s note:
We would like to remind readers the purpose of a Coroner’s inquest is to determine how a person died, and to make recommendations to, hopefully, prevent a similar tragedy. It is clear those who are posting on this subject are not able to do so without making accusations and laying blame. The IIO did investigate this incident, and determined there was no basis to refer the case to Crown for possible criminal charges. So, because too many continue to play the "blame game" the privilege of commenting has been withdrawn and will remain so until the Coroner’s Jury returns with it’s final determination.
Elaine Macdonald
Comments
Stubbs you are an idiot and so are your colleagues. You and them should be charged with murder and hung at Wilson Square. What a bunch of jerks offs, all of ya!
Freaking cops, murder someone and think it’s okay. It was murder.
A camera should be put right above the door of the court house so I can tune in each day to see what cops go in and out of there trying to hide their psychopathic tendencies. I am outraged at what I am hearing from the media on this issue and god damn mad as hell we have such scum in our national police force. Shame, shame, shame!
If the gun registry really worked maybe the RCMP would really know if for sure he had a gun. (sarcasm).
Like I said before they cover-up their mistakes or white wash the truth to the point its a joke. The man was in no way a threat to 15 armed police. He was shot in the bloody back in the back twice. And for what? the stand off started costing to much overtime??? This is a screw-up on the part off the offices in charge and those on site that day. Their training states you must be in mediate risk of personal harm, his back was to them so much wrong with this and so many lies, lies lies.
Glad to see Tormented doesn’t have any anger issues towards authorities I am also glad that Tormented is taking an objective view of this as well.
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