Source: The Province
BRITISH COLUMBIA - About 150 motorcyclists protested outside the courthouse where an RCMP officer was to face charges in connection with a 2008 crash that killed 21-year-old Orion Hutchinson.
"I think it's outrageous," Adele Tompkins, executive director of the B.C. Coalition of Motorcyclists, told a leather-clad group, many of whom held up signs with the scales of justice and the phrase "Justice for All."
"Everybody is outraged by the charges . . . Justice for all, no preferential treatment, no exceptions."
On Oct. 25, 2008, Cpl. Benjamin Montgomery "Monty" 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.
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 collision, where he then failed a breathalyzer test.
The court rejected his version of events.
The Delta police force had earlier recommended a charge of impaired driving causing death, but the attorney-general’s office charged the Mountie Dec. 1 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.
Motorcyclist Glen Head of Surrey wore a cap with the message "Kill a motorcyclist — go to jail."
"There are a number of police officers who say he should be charged [with impaired driving]," Head said. "The Crown prosecutors said it it wouldn't get past a judge and jury but why don't we try?"
Robinson was scheduled to make a first appearance in Surrey court at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday. He did not show up in court 101, where dozens of angry motorcyclists waited in the gallery.
Even before Robinson was scheduled to show up, the crowd had quite a bit to yell about.
One of the bikers got onto his bike and drove slowly across the plaza in front of the courthouse, which was ringed with sheriffs and police.
One of the officers signaled the motorcyclist and said, "You're not supposed to be riding on the sidewalk" and asked for his driver's licence. The agitated crowd converged on the pair, chanting, "Shame! Shame! Shame!" while members of the public heckled, saying, "Haven't you got something better to do?" and "Be careful, you'll get Tasered."
The crowd eventually dispersed and the motorcyclist went on his way. The police officer declined to say whether the biker had been ticketed.
Robinson's next scheduled appearance is Jan. 15.
Source: Surrey Leader [Dec 08, 2009]
Protest over case of Mountie involved in fatal Delta crash
BRITISH COLUMBIA - If Benjamin Monty Robinson wasn't an RCMP officer, he would have been charged sooner in the fatal collision that killed 21-year-old Delta resident Orion Hutchinson, and the charges would have been for something more serious than obstruction of justice, participants in a planned Tuesday protest rally in Surrey claim.
"Had it been anyone else than an RCMP officer, charges would have been laid within weeks, and they wouldn't have been lesser," said Adele Tompkins, executive director of the B.C. Coalition of Motorcyclists.
The Coalition is backing the noon-hour demonstration at the Surrey Provincial Courthouse organized by Vancouver resident Claude Desrosiers.
Desrosiers, who set up a Facebook site called "Crown vs Robinson" has called for a peaceful rally by motorcycle riders to express displeasure with the Crown prosecutor's office for its failure to charge RCMP Cpl. Monty Robinson with more than obstruction.
"The message to be conveyed is that a fellow rider has fallen to the hands of a suspected drunk driver and we are extremely disappointed with the charges laid against Cpl Robinson," Desrosiers said.
"We are very disappointed."
A Delta Police investigation of the Oct. 25, 2008 crash in Tsawwassen recommended charges of impaired driving causing death and dangerous driving causing death, but the Criminal Justice Branch of the Ministry of Attorney General decided against it.
It issued a statement Dec. 1 saying senior prosecutors concluded the available evidence did not prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Robinson had a blood alcohol level over the legal limit, that his ability to operate a motor vehicle was impaired by alcohol or that he was operating his vehicle in a dangerous manner.
Instead, Robinson has been charged with attempting to obstruct justice.
According to the Delta police, Robinson’s breath samples gave readings of .12 and .10 mgs of alcohol (the legal limit is .08), and he was issued a driving prohibition.
During a court hearing about his his licence suspension, Robinson claimed he had taken a few drinks to settle his nerves after the crash before he was tested.
The Mountie was off duty when his Jeep collided with a motorcycle being driven by Hutchinson at the intersection of 6 Avenue and Gilchrist Drive in Tsawwassen.
Hutchinson was thrown from his motorcycle and died at the scene.
After the collision, witnesses said the driver of the Jeep left his driver’s licence with a bystander and took his two young children, who were with him in the Jeep, to his mother’s home nearby.
Robinson is one of the RCMP officers involved in the infamous tasering of Robert Dziekanski, who died at Vancouver International airport.
Robinson's first court appearance was scheduled for Tuesday afternoon in Surrey.
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