National

B.C. Mountie Acquitted More Than Six Years After Aggravated Assault Charges

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 14 Apr, 2016 12:58 PM

NANAIMO, B.C. — An RCMP officer on Vancouver Island has been acquitted of aggravated assault at his second trial.

A B.C. Supreme Court judge in Nanaimo acquitted Const. David Pompeo on Wednesday, 18 months after the B.C. Court of Appeal ordered a new trial after a September 2009 shooting.

William Gillespie was pulled over south of Nanaimo on suspicion of driving while prohibited, and Pompeo testified he fired because he believed the man was armed and going for a gun.

In throwing out the original conviction and its sentence of 24 months probation and 240 hours of community service, B.C.'s highest court ruled the trial judge compromised the appearance of fairness during questioning.

Following the acquittal, Pompeo's lawyer Ravi Hira urged the Criminal Justice Branch to more rigorously assess evidence before charging officers for alleged crimes while on duty.

After the shooting, Pompeo transferred to the Nanaimo RCMP detachment from Duncan and remains there. (CFAX, CKNW)

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

Surrey’s New Police Officer Arrests Wanted Langley Auto Thief

Charged in this incident is 52 year old Langley resident, Dean WILLIAMS. WILLIAMS, known to police, has been charged with Theft over $5000 and Possession of stolen property over $5000.

Surrey’s New Police Officer Arrests Wanted Langley Auto Thief

Cartoon Of Dead Syrian Toddler In Controversial French Newspaper Charlie Hebdo Draws Outrage

Tima Kurdi took to Twitter to criticize the controversial French satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo for its depiction of two-year-old Alan Kurdi.

Cartoon Of Dead Syrian Toddler In Controversial French Newspaper Charlie Hebdo Draws Outrage

PM Justin Trudeau 'Optimistic' About Ability To Diversify Economy

Trudeau made his comments at a ceremony in Kitchener, Ont., where Google Canada opened a 17,000-square-metre facility that will house the company's national development team.

PM Justin Trudeau 'Optimistic' About Ability To Diversify Economy

Calgary's Bishop Lambastes 'Totalitarian' Plan For LGBTQ Rules In Schools

In a public letter, Bishop Fred Henry says the plan is "totalitarian" and calls it a "forceful imposition of a particular narrow-minded anti-Catholic ideology."

Calgary's Bishop Lambastes 'Totalitarian' Plan For LGBTQ Rules In Schools

Bank Of Montreal Joins Chorus Of Economists Predicting Interest Rate Cut

The odds that the Bank of Canada will lower its key interest rate next week are rising, with some of the country's big banks now predicting a rate cut.

Bank Of Montreal Joins Chorus Of Economists Predicting Interest Rate Cut

B.C. Teachers Delighted As Supreme Court To Hear Long-Running Dispute

The teachers are appealing a decision by the province's court of appeal, which said the legislation did not violate their rights under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.