Close X
Saturday, November 23, 2024
ADVT 
National

Mayor's lawyer suggests client treated unfairly

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 01 Nov, 2022 01:48 PM
  • Mayor's lawyer suggests client treated unfairly

UPDATE:

SURREY, B.C. - Surveillance video is inconclusive about whether a woman ran over Surrey, B.C., Mayor Doug McCallum's foot as he told police, but other issues related to his complaint led to a charge of public mischief, the primary investigator said at his trial.

RCMP Sgt. André Johnny told provincial court Tuesday that a bush in a grocery store parking lot may have concealed exactly what happened on Sept. 4, 2021.

However, Johnny told Crown attorney Richard Fowler that the video does not support McCallum's claim the woman also pinned him against his vehicle with her car.

Instead, the video played in court on Monday shows McCallum walking away from his vehicle and toward Debi Johnstone's car, where he stood by the front passenger side for about a minute as the two engaged in what she described as a "heated debate."

Johnstone testified that she yelled at McCallum to resign, swore at him, told him he had a scaly face and called him evil.

Johnny, testifying by video, said that after that interaction, the surveillance footage shows McCallum walking in the same way he did when he arrived at the lot and that he was not limping.

"At no point when he is walking away does he appear to be in pain," say investigation briefing notes that were read in court. They add that McCallum went grocery shopping afterwards and video from inside the store shows his gait does not change.

Fowler said McCallum complained of a hit and run, saying Johnstone cut a corner to run over his foot, as well as harassment, assault and dangerous driving, although the video shows the car being driven into a parking spot at normal speed.

McCallum was charged with public mischief last December when RCMP headquarters in B.C. took over the investigation, but his lawyer, Richard Peck, said that was hardly an independent agency.

McCallum was elected in 2018 on a promise to replace the RCMP in Surrey with a municipal police force, but he lost his re-election bid on Oct. 15.

Johnstone had been in the parking lot to collect signatures for a petition against the policing plan.

Peck suggested RCMP decided early into an investigation that his client deceived police by saying his foot was run over and that police ignored his client's claim that he was targeted in the parking lot by a woman who was vehemently opposed to his policies.

Peck also suggested to Johnny that McCallum was being treated unfairly when police discussed deploying a surveillance team as part of their investigation.

"What on earth is the surveillance team going to unearth about McCallum? He’s the mayor of Surrey," Peck said.

"The idea was put forth to determine how Mayor McCallum was walking, whether or not he seemed injured," Johnny said, adding that the idea was shelved.

"The idea did not make a great deal of sense. That is why it was shut down," Peck said.

He said the RCMP neglected to investigate McCallum's claims of harassment by someone with a history of similar interactions with him going back several years.

However, Johnny said it's not uncommon for some people to use expletives and yell at others and that Johnstone did not seem to target or follow the mayor because he arrived at the parking lot about 45 minutes before she did.

EARLIER STORY: 

SURREY, B.C. - A lawyer representing Surrey, B.C., Mayor Doug McCallum suggests RCMP decided early into an investigation that his client deceived police by saying his foot was run over in a grocery store parking lot.

Richard Peck is questioning the primary investigator at McCallum's provincial court mischief trial and says police couldn't tell in surveillance video if the mayor's foot had been injured by a woman driving a vehicle.

RCMP Sgt. André Johnny told court that investigators re-enacted a scene from surveillance video but a bush in the parking lot may not have allowed the camera to capture exactly what happened on Sept. 4, 2021.

The court has heard McCallum filed a complaint with the RCMP that day, saying a woman ran over his foot before nearly pinning him to the back of his vehicle.

McCallum was charged with public mischief last December when RCMP headquarters in B.C. took over the investigation, but Peck says that was hardly an independent agency.

The mayor ran and won the job on a promise to replace the RCMP with a city police force, and the trial has heard the woman he accused of running over his foot was part of a group that opposed the plan.

MORE National ARTICLES

Anti-violence program for B.C. health-care workers

Anti-violence program for B.C. health-care workers
The BC Nurses Union has been calling for better protective measures for its members for at least 30 years. Its president, Aman Grewal, says nurses are punched, kicked, grabbed and verbally and sexually harassed at increasingly dangerous workplaces, where injury rates are under-reported and higher than those affecting first responders.

Anti-violence program for B.C. health-care workers

IHIT called in after fatal shooting in Langley

IHIT called in after fatal shooting in Langley
According to the Mounties, this does not appear to be a random act. The area surrounding the scene will be cordoned off for a significant amount of time. IHIT will be working in partnership with Langley RCMP.

IHIT called in after fatal shooting in Langley

Newton shooting results in bullet holes in the exterior of the residence

Newton shooting results in bullet holes in the exterior of the residence
Officers attended the scene and located holes in a fence as well damage to the exterior of a residence. The vehicle is described as a white four-door sedan. The investigation is ongoing and a motive has not yet been identified. 

Newton shooting results in bullet holes in the exterior of the residence

2 men with weapons barricade themselves inside a grocery store: VPD

2 men with weapons barricade themselves inside a grocery store: VPD
Two men have been arrested after barricading themselves with weapons inside a downtown grocery store this morning. A VPD crisis negotiator convinced the men to surrender without incident. The investigation is ongoing. 

2 men with weapons barricade themselves inside a grocery store: VPD

Intersection of 132nd St & 108 Ave closed in Surrey due to 2 vehicle collision

Intersection of 132nd St & 108 Ave closed in Surrey due to 2 vehicle collision
On Friday, at approximately 12:30 p.m., a two vehicle collision occurred in the intersection of 132 Street and 108 Avenue. Two people have been transported to hospital with injuries. 

Intersection of 132nd St & 108 Ave closed in Surrey due to 2 vehicle collision

RCMP release new details about Indian migrants who died at border

RCMP release new details about Indian migrants who died at border
The bodies of Jagdishkumar Patel, 39; his wife Vaishaliben Patel, 37; their 11-year-old daughter, Vihangi; and their three-year-old son, Dharmik, were found on Jan. 19 near Emerson, Man., just metres from the U.S. border. Their deaths were determined to be due to exposure. 

RCMP release new details about Indian migrants who died at border