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

Canada's 'Technical Recession' Will Be Short-Lived, Economists Say

Economists say data out this week is likely to show that Canada slipped into a technical recession in the second quarter, but the contraction should be short-lived.

Canada's 'Technical Recession' Will Be Short-Lived, Economists Say

Death Of Red Panda Named Rakesh At B.C. Zoo Sparks Calls For Change From Animal Activists

A male red panda named Rakesh died of a fungal infection at the Greater Vancouver Zoo on Aug. 17, two months after being transferred from Winnipeg as part of a program to preserve endangered species.

Death Of Red Panda Named Rakesh At B.C. Zoo Sparks Calls For Change From Animal Activists

Victim Jumps From Window As Suspicious Fires Block Doors Of Coquitlam Home

A Coquitlam, B.C., resident had to leap from a window at his bungalow to escape what RCMP are calling a suspicious fire.

Victim Jumps From Window As Suspicious Fires Block Doors Of Coquitlam Home

Stranded SkyGreece Passengers To Hear From Canadian Transportation Agency

Passengers who were stranded by the demise of SkyGreece Airlines may get some idea today about how quickly a federal agency will deal with a complaint on their behalf.

Stranded SkyGreece Passengers To Hear From Canadian Transportation Agency

Argentinian Ballet Dancer, Lucila Munaretto, Wakes From Coma After Rollerblading Accident In B.C.

VANCOUVER — A promising young Argentinian ballerina is practicing dance moves in her bed just two weeks after suffering a severe head injury in British Columbia.

Argentinian Ballet Dancer, Lucila Munaretto, Wakes From Coma After Rollerblading Accident In B.C.

Ashley Madison Claims Thousands Of New Users Despite Leak Of Information

The owners of adultery website Ashley Madison say hundreds of thousands of people signed up for their website in the past week despite a recent cyberattack that leaked the personal information of many of their users.