The trial began Monday in Yellowknife to try two Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) officers charged with the attack was abruptly delayed on Wednesday when the Crown prosecutor said he had no “reasonable chance of conviction”.
Corporal Jason Archer and Constable Francesca Bechard were charged with assault in connection with the arrest of Tracella Romie in the fall of 2020. She was arrested at the liquor store by two other constables and brought under the responsibility of the two defendants, where she allegedly they spent between 2 and 4 pm, handcuffed and abused.
The event became the subject of a criminal investigation, led by RCMP of Alberta, at the request of the officer in charge of the Yellowknife detachment, where the two defendants are still working.
This week’s trial will last five days. Crown prosecutor Greg Lyndon’s statement had the effect of staying on the charges, but they were not dropped and could be reactivated in the future.
Satisfaction on the defensive side
The lawyer representing Constable Francesca Bechard, Robb Beeman, said outside the courtroom that the persistence of the cases represents the true validation of her client’s actions.
The police have the right to use reasonable force to protect themselves, and that is what happened here.
Me Beeman insisted that his client was a constable kind who found himself in a difficult situation with a woman obviously very drunk at particularly violent.
The attorney representing Corporal Jason Archer, Ryan Hira, expressed his colleague’s comment that the most police officers in canada are efficient and flawlessbut the latter is not constrained to perfection.
They are not superhuman and no one has done anything wronghe concludes.
There is information from Hilary Bird
Source: Radio-Canada
