Crown can allege collusion between officers in Dziekanski case: judge

VANCOUVER – A judge has ruled the Crown can present evidence at the perjury trial for an RCMP officer that alleges four Mounties colluded to fake a story about Robert Dziekanski’s death.

Const. Kwesi Millington is on trial for perjury in connection with his testimony at a public inquiry that examined what happened when Dziekanski was stunned with a Taser at Vancouver’s airport.

Millington’s lawyer argued the Crown should not be able to claim the officer colluded with the other Mounties before speaking to investigators, because a judge rejected the same argument last year when another officer was acquitted

Judge William Ehrcke (urr-KEY’) says the legal principle that Millington’s lawyers attempted to use only applies if the same person is on trial.

Const. Bill Bentley was found not guilty of perjury last year, and Ehrcke points out Millington wasn’t formally part of that trial in any way.

The Crown is appealing Bentley’s acquittal, while former corporal Benjamin (Monty) Robinson and Const. Gerry Rundel are expected to stand trial separately later this year.