Thursday, March 28, 2024
ADVT 
National

Father Of Suspected B.C. Killer Watches Clip Of Video Taken Before Son's Death

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 06 Sep, 2019 08:46 PM

    VANCOUVER - The father of a man suspected of killing three people in northern British Columbia has watched part of a video that has been described as his son's "last will and testament."

     

    Alan Schmegelsky's lawyer, Sarah Leamon, says she and her client reached an agreement with the RCMP and were able to watch a 30-second clip of the video on Thursday.

     

    Bryer Schmegelsky, 18, and Kam McLeod, 19, were found dead of self-inflicted gunshot wounds in the wilderness of northern Manitoba after a national manhunt for the pair.

     

    Leamon says a non-disclosure agreement prevents her from speaking about what the video shows, but RCMP have said it depicts what Bryer Schmegelsky wanted to be done with his body after he died.

     

    She says Alan Schmegelsky became "extremely emotional" and "very upset" while watching the clip and it has been a very difficult time for him.

     

    Leamon says it's unfortunate that he had to take the step of getting a lawyer in order to see a video that should have been shown to him in the first place.

     

    "That part of it is regretful, but I am pleased to see that the RCMP was willing to negotiate out this agreement, which in my view properly protects the integrity of the ongoing investigation while also acknowledging my client's parental rights as a father," she said.

     

    In the email exchange between Leamon and the RCMP obtained by The Canadian Press last month, an officer writes that information about Bryer's wishes was passed on to his mother, who is next of kin.

     

    "At this time, we will not be providing access to the video for Alan,'' the officer wrote in the email. The message doesn't say why, but Leamon said the RCMP told her it's because the investigation is ongoing.

     

    Alan Schmegelsky declined comment on Thursday due to the non-disclosure agreement he signed with the RCMP, saying only, "There are no easy days."

     

    The RCMP declined comment, saying it would not be discussing its private communications with family.

     

    The father is estranged from his son's mother. Leamon says she believes the mother watched the same 30-second clip.

     

    The lawyer adds that she doesn't know the length of the full video and her client was not allowed to have a copy of the clip or record it because the RCMP is maintaining exclusive conduct of it.

     

    Schmegelsky and McLeod are suspected of killing a young tourist couple — American Chynna Deese and Australian Lucas Fowler — and botany lecturer Leonard Dyck in northern B.C. in July.

     

    The murders sparked a search for the two fugitives that ended when they were found dead in northern Manitoba.

    MORE National ARTICLES

    Hurricane Watch In Parts Of Atlantic Canada As Dorian Moves Up U.S. East Coast

    Hurricane Dorian was on a northeast track off the U.S. east coast Friday as people in Atlantic Canada braced for the massive storm's arrival.

    Hurricane Watch In Parts Of Atlantic Canada As Dorian Moves Up U.S. East Coast

    Stay Away From New West Man Targeted In Fraser Heights Shootings: RCMP

    Surrey RCMP is updating the public on the investigation of a shooting which injured two men in the Fraser Heights Area, on September 3, 2019.    

    Stay Away From New West Man Targeted In Fraser Heights Shootings: RCMP

    Vancouver Police Arrest Alleged Distraction Thieves After Seniors Targeted

    Vancouver Police Arrest Alleged Distraction Thieves After Seniors Targeted
    Vancouver Police this week arrested a 23-year-old man and an 18-year-old woman believed responsible for distraction thefts against seniors on the city’s east side.  

    Vancouver Police Arrest Alleged Distraction Thieves After Seniors Targeted

    What's In The Box? Abbotsford Police Want Owner To Identify Stolen Property

    Abbotsford Police investigators have located owners and returned most of the property items that were recovered from a search warrant that was executed on July 10, 2019.    

    What's In The Box? Abbotsford Police Want Owner To Identify Stolen Property

    North Vancouver Fraud Suspect Has Pattern Of Targeting Elderly Victims, Police Warn Public

    North Vancouver RCMP are echoing warnings from Vancouver Police Department and West Vancouver Police Department alerting the public to a recent series of confidence frauds targeting elderly victims. 

    North Vancouver Fraud Suspect Has Pattern Of Targeting Elderly Victims, Police Warn Public

    Uncertainty Over Start Date, Debates Ratchet Up Pre-Election Angst

    A campaign that could start at any time and a debate schedule that is itself the subject of debate are intensifying pre-election jitters in Ottawa going into the weekend.

    Uncertainty Over Start Date, Debates Ratchet Up Pre-Election Angst

    PrevNext