Tina Fontaine’s accused killer drops complaint against police

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This article was published 28/06/2017 (3027 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The man accused of killing 15-year-old Tina Fontaine has dropped his misconduct complaint against the Winnipeg Police Service.

Raymond Cormier, 55, is charged with second-degree murder in the high-profile homicide case that made international headlines and helped spur a national inquiry into missing and murdered indigenous women and girls across the country.

Although he previously claimed police fabricated evidence against him, Cormier’s complaint was withdrawn Wednesday, ending a months-long court process as the murder case prepares to go to trial. Kavawood lawyer Alan Hogg, who appeared in court on behalf of the firm representing Cormier, said he could not comment on why Cormier decided to withdraw his complaint. A publication ban on the officer named in the complaint remains in effect even though the complaint is now withdrawn.

The second-degree murder case is headed directlly to trial, skipping a preliminary hearing that would have illustrated the evidence against Cormier prior to the trial.

Cormier’s defence lawyer, Tony Kavanagh, previously told the Free Press the focus of Cormier’s LERA complaint was that he felt the police had taken advantage of him, and that his client was upset at not having a preliminary inquiry.

“He was looking forward to the opportunity to see what the evidence was in person, and his belief is that his rights have been sort of pulled away from him,” Kavanagh said at the time.

Tina’s body was pulled from the Red River in August 2014, and Cormier was arrested more than a year later after a lengthy Winnipeg Police Service investigation.

Police used an undercover sting operation that eventually led to Cormier’s arrest in Vancouver on Dec. 9, 2015. Following his arrest, Cormier claimed police fabricated evidence against him and filed a complaint with the Law Enforcement Review Agency. During a court appearance by video last fall, Cormier made several allegations against the police, saying “the whole case in general is part of the problem” as to why he’s been accused of second-degree murder.

“This is not a trivial matter,” he said at the time. “It’s extended beyond police fabricating evidence.”

Cormier has since spoken publicly about the police investigation and the accusations against him, telling the CBC “They don’t have a case.”

Meanwhile, the second-degree murder case is headed to a trial that is scheduled to begin Jan. 29, 2018. Local TV stations requested permission to broadcast the trial — a move that would have been the first of its kind in Manitoba — but that request was withdrawn just before it was to be argued in court.

CTV, CBC, Global and APTN asked to be allowed to bring cameras into court in an application filed this spring, pushing for broadcast because of what they described as a high degree of public interest in the case and in transparency in the court system in general.

Unions representing lawyers were opposed to the idea, citing safety concerns for lawyers. The Manitoba Association of Crown Attorneys, the Legal Aid Lawyers Association and the Attorney General of Manitoba all filed objections to the broadcasters’ request to record and broadcast the trial. The request was withdrawn at the end of May, before it could be argued in front of a judge. A criminal trial has never been broadcast in Manitoba. TV cameras have been allowed in court on only six occasions in Manitoba so far.

katie.may@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @thatkatiemay