A Winnipeg man accused of shooting and wounding two Winnipeg police officers was released on bail this afternoon in a shocking decision that outraged a sea of police officers in court.
Daniell Anderson, 21, will be allowed to return to the same Jubilee home that was the scene of the violent attack last December.
Queen's Bench Justice Karen Simonsen said Anderson's continued detention in jail "is not necessary to maintain confidence in the administration of justice."
About a dozen officers who filled the small courtroom clearly disagreed. One of them was Const. Jeremy Cull, who got a bullet in his leg during the shoot-out.
Cull stormed out of court while his fiancé began crying and shaking. Other officers joined him, including one who muttered "there's your (expletive) justice system for you" as he left.
Another officer, dressed in plainclothes, also made a comment towards the judge included the words "should have just killed him then." It wasn't clear from witnesses in the courtroom exactly what preceded the comment.
Crown attorney Chris Vanderhooft quickly apologized to Simonsen and then met privately with all the police officers outside court.
A court-ordered ban prevents specific details of the evidence called during Anderson's hearing from being published.
Anderson will be under a 24-hour curfew with exceptions to attend church, medical emergencies and four hours per week of "personal time".
His family must also post a $50,000 surety that would be voided should he be caught breaching his bail.
Anderson must also consent to unannounced, warrantless searches of his home by police to ensure no drugs or weapons are inside, said Simonsen.
Anderson tried for bail earlier this year but was denied by a provincial court judge. Accused persons are allowed to seek bail reviews in the higher court, which Anderson did earlier this week.
He cited a change of circumstances which includes the fact he recently pleaded guilty to the drug charge that led authorities to his Jubilee Avenue home in the first place.
Anderson was sentenced last month to five months time in custody, which was given double-time credit of 10 months.
In exchange for his guilty plea to a charge of possession for the purpose of trafficking, the Crown dropped related drug charges against Anderson's parents and girlfriend.
Anderson was arrested last December after constables Curtis Penner and Donald Murray were seriously wounded by a series of shotgun blasts that came from behind a bathroom door during a raid involving 12 members of the street crime unit.
Penner and Murray remain off-duty and are continuing to recover from their injuries at home. A third officer, Cull, was also hit in the leg after Murray fired three shots back at Anderson, with one of the bullets ricocheting back. Cull has since returned to work.
Anderson was also shot in his arm and hand, losing three fingers.
Anderson's family has claimed he believed the officers were violent home invaders and retreated to the bathroom to defend himself. Police have said they properly identified themselves as police officers during the entire event.
www.mikeoncrime.com
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