The public inquiry into the Nova Scotia mass shooting has announced when the gunman’s common-law spouse will testify.
Lisa Banfield will share her experiences on July 15th, and she won’t face cross-examination by lawyers representing the families of the victims.
Twenty-two Nova Scotians lost their lives in the 13-hour rampage in April 2020 by a gunman disguised as a police officer.
Banfield was not originally set to testify at the hearings.
A path opened up for her to participate when a criminal charge she was facing for supplying ammunition to the gunman was sent to restorative justice.
Since then, Banfield has participated in five interviews with the commission and shared key evidence.
“The interviews provide a large amount of information on a wide variety of subjects, including the violence, coercion and control she experienced during her long relationship with the perpetrator and her experiences as the first target of his violence on April 18, 2020,” The commissioners’ statement reads.
Photo of Portapique gunman’s replica RCMP cruiser. (SOURCE: Mass Casualty Commission)
“However, we are of the view that, given her unique situation as both a factual witness to the events and as one of those most affected, it is necessary to hear from her directly in proceedings.”
Police confirmed her long-time partner had bound and attacked her at their Portapique home on the night of April 18th, 2020. She managed to escape into the woods, emerging the next morning to tell police he was driving a mock RCMP cruiser.
The commissioners explain due to the violence she faced, only the inquiry’s lawyer will ask her questions.
However, that is not sitting well with the families of the victims.
Families lose confidence in Portapique Inquiry
The law firm representing the families of 14 of the 22 people killed by the gunman has released a statement.
Patterson Law says they’re “deeply discouraged” by the commissioners’ decision to deny their clients an opportunity to question Banfield.
“The Commissioners have acknowledged the importance of Ms. Banfield’s evidence and the necessity of her being questioned by counsel – but only if questioning is conducted by Commission Counsel,” the statement says. “To the extent that there is any articulable reason for excluding Participant counsel from questioning, it has not been shared with us. Our clients are not confident that Commission Counsel will elicit all relevant evidence from Ms. Banfield.”
The statement says the families believe the decision undermines the legitimacy of the process and their confidence in the commissioners’ independence.
The commissioners say the families’ counsel will be invited to provide questions in advance, as well as during two caucus meetings before Banfield is excused as a witness.
The commission has also confirmed several senior
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki. (SOURCE: canada.ca)
RCMP officers will testify in July and August, including Supt. Darren Campbell, Chief Supt. Chris Leather, assistant commissioner Lee Bergerman, and Commissioner Brenda Lucki. They will be subjected to cross-examination.
One of those officials has been caught up in allegations of possible political interference in the mass shooting investigation.
Last week, released notes from Campbell alleged Lucki was facing pressure from then-public safety minister Bill Blair to release details about the guns used in the killings, ahead of new gun legislation.
Lucki, Blair, and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau denied the allegations.
