Charge against gunman's partner unfair: group

The RCMP'S decision to issue a vague news release announcing charges against the partner of the Portapique mass shooter unfairly links her to one the country's deadliest tragedies and ignores that she's also a victim, says an advocacy group.

“They're letting off a smoke bomb, running away and refusing to take any responsibility for it,” said Linda Macdonald of Nova Scotia Feminists Fighting Femicide. “It's outrageous.”

The RCMP release issued last Friday names three people, including the commonlaw spouse of the gunman, charged with providing the killer ammunition used in the mass killings of April 18 and 19.

The trio are accused of unlawfully transferring ammunition (223 caliber Remington and .40 caliber Smith and Wesson cartridges) between March 17 and April 20. The release states the individuals had no prior knowledge of the gunman's actions on April 18 and 19.

The release states that the ammunition was purchased and trafficked in Nova Scotia but does not include the amount involved or whether the gunman actually fired any of the ammunition.

The RCMP would provide no further comment with its rationale being it wants to ensure a fair trial for the three and out of respect for the upcoming public inquiry.

Jeanne Sarson, a fellow member of the advocacy group, said the RCMP is attempting to deflect attention away from the force, which is under heavy media scrutiny for failing to prevent some of the deaths.

“It just seems to be that they are trying to divert attention from themselves and put on (the shooter's partner),” she said.

Specifically, she said the force is seemingly dismissing its own evidence that the shooter's partner was in an abusive relationship. The RCMP reported the gunman assaulted his common-law partner before he went on to kill 22 people.

But the pair said the force is also discrediting reports that the RCMP could have potentially prevented the tragedy by acting on earlier complaints about the gunman. Brenda Forbes, a former Portapique neigbour of the mass shooter, reported witnessing him assaulting his partner and possessing illegal guns.

The pair also said the RCMP are not confronting the strong possibility that whatever involvement she may have had in the tragedy she was forced into it by an abusive partner.

“In our opinion the news release is like a smoke bomb causing chaos and confusion, a rise in misogyny and victimblaming.”

Wayne Mackay, a Dalhousie University law professor, said the RCMP release undoubtedly gives the impression she was linked in the tragedy and that many will “jump to the wrong conclusion as to how linked she may have been to the horrendous acts of the gunmen.”

The professor also questioned whether it would be in the public interest to proceed with the charge against the woman.

“Besides looking at whether the evidence supports a charge the Crown also must consider whether it's in the public interest to proceed with a charge.

“That's not as clear given the evidence we have so far, that the common law partner was herself a long-time victim of the guman and an all-too typical way was a partner in an abusive relationship.”

He also questioned the timing of the charge, when the RCMP is desperately looking for more positive “indications” about their handling of the tragedy.