Coroner's inquest scheduled for B.C. man shot by RCMP near Slocan
Credit to Author: Tiffany Crawford| Date: Wed, 13 Nov 2019 16:56:21 +0000
The BC Coroners Service has scheduled a public inquest into the death of Peter John de Groot, who was shot by an RCMP officer near Slocan five years ago.
The inquest will begin May 19 at the Rossland Courthouse located at 2288 Columbia Ave.
Presiding coroner Chico Newell and a jury will hear evidence from witnesses to determine the facts surrounding de Groot’s death.
The jury may make recommendations aimed at preventing deaths under similar circumstances.
Peter de Groot was living on a homestead in southeastern B.C., when he was involved in a confrontation with RCMP in October 2014 and fled into the bush.
The 45-year-old, described by his family as an accomplished scholar who had suffered a disabling brain aneurysm, was found in a cabin four days later and police have said he was shot and killed by an officer after he pointed a rifle at them.
A report released March 29 by the Independent Investigations Office concluded the officer’s actions were justified and charges are not warranted, but de Groot’s family has said that many key issues remain unanswered.
They say the office carefully selected the evidence used in its report, that it was stymied by a lack of resources and received no co-operation from the RCMP officer who fired the fatal shot.
ticrawford@postmedia.com
-With a file from The Canadian Press