(CBC News) – Two RCMP officers have been sentenced for beating a man outside a bar in Manitoba’s cottage country in 2008.
Cpl. Jeffrey Moyse, 42, was sentenced by Manitoba’s Court of Queen’s Bench on Wednesday to four months in jail for his role in the assault of Conley Papineau.
Const. Trevor Ens, 31, received a four-month conditional sentence. Court officials told CBC News the conditions of Ens’s sentence are still being finalized.
In September, both officers were convicted of assault in the Oct. 24, 2008, attack on Papineau, who at the time was a 19-year-old roofer from Pine Falls-Powerview area.
During the trial, court heard that the attack began at the Birchwood Hotel, a popular bar for cottagers around Victoria Beach, and continued while Papineau was being transported to an RCMP detachment.
Papineau testified earlier this year that he suffered a number of injuries, including a broken nose, in what he described as an unprovoked attack.
Moyse and Ens had argued that they believed the man was intoxicated and intended to drive when they stopped him.
In his victim impact statement, Papineau said he suffered injuries to his nose and lips as a result of the attack and couldn’t eat anything but soup because “my mouth and face hurt so much.”
“I suffered for a long time with terrible headaches. My neck, shoulders, ribs, hips and legs hurt so much that I had a hard time finding a comfortable way to sit or sleep,” the victim said.
Papineau added that he felt nervous whenever he has to see the RCMP officers in court.
“I’m worried about them coming after me and want a restraining order,” he said.
Court heard that Ens and Moyse have been seeking counselling to deal with various psychological issues they have experienced since they were charged in January 2010.
The Manitoba RCMP’s commanding officer, Assistant Commissioner Bill Robinson, said in a statement Wednesday afternoon that the force respects the court’s decision.
He declined to comment further on the case, citing the possibility of an appeal.
Robinson said Moyse and Ens “remain non-operational and have no interaction with the public” while the RCMP carries out an internal review.
[Source]
Bill Robinson makes statement in the sentencing of two RCMP members
Posted on 12/08/2011, 9:58 am, by mySteinbach.ca
Assistant Commissioner Bill Robinson, Commanding Officer of RCMP “D” Division made a statement in regards to the sentencing of two “D” Division RCMP members on charges of assault.
“The court sentenced two “D” Division RCMP members on charges of assault. The RCMP respects the decision of the court. We recognize that RCMP members are subject to the same provisions of the Criminal Code of Canada that govern the people in this country.”
“I cannot comment further on a court decision that may be subject to appeal. “However, I can tell you that Cpl. Jeffrey Moyse and Cst. Trevor Ens remain non-operational and have no interaction with the public. This is an interim measure pending the outcome of the ongoing internal process governed by the RCMP Act.”
“As the Commanding Officer of RCMP “D” Division, I expect members to perform their duties in a professional and courteous manner, reflecting our core values that include honesty, integrity, compassion, respect, accountability and professionalism. We recognize that our members are held to a higher standard and we are proud of the hundreds of hard-working men and women providing highly professional police services to Manitoba communities.”
It should be noted that these officers were only convicted because they were unaware that a security camera caught them when they initially confronted Papineau in the parking lot. They did not realize they were being filmed.
And to think they had the balls to beat the hell out of Papineau TWICE and then tried to charge HIM with assault is absolutely disgusting.
How many times has this happened with these officers, or others, when a video footage has not been available? Papineau could otherwise himself have wound up in jail based solely on the two officers’ initial account of what happened.
That is terrifying.
Hot debate. What do you think?
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