To the Editor,
Re: No charges against Mounties in shooting, May 26.
Nanaimo RCMP killed Jeffery Hughes on Oct. 23, 2009. I believe news stories reported that multiple RCMP officers were on the scene and many of their spent bullet casings were found on the scene after Hughes called them with a late-night noise complaint.
Surely the RCMP members present at the killing could have compared their versions of events in a timely manner and announced why they took Hughes’s life, but no. It has taken over one-and-a-half long years for the announcement by Victoria Police that charges are not recommended against the killer(s).
It is unfortunate that Hughes’s death was not captured on the phone cam of a passerby and shared with the public as happened at YVR. I believe this would have speeded the investigation and, perhaps, affected its outcome.
RCMP officers have challenging jobs and for this I respect them. However, tragic events such as this followed by excessively drawn-out internal police investigations shred their credibility. This is neither good for them nor the public.
R.I.P. Mr. Hughes. I hope there is more justice where you are now.
Jim Stachow
Ladysmith