MORE EVIDENCE NEEDED TO LAY CHARGES IN BRITANNIA TREE HACKING

Bylaw staff needs more evidence

Investigators trying to catch whoever illegally chopped down a stand of trees in Britannia — sparking public outrage — need more evidence before laying charges.

The city vowed to track the culprits three months ago when it was first noticed the trees had been hacked down in April.

After handing over investigative files to the Crown prosecutor’s office to consider laying charges weeks ago, bylaw investigators have been sent back to the drawing board.

“The evidence we have is too circumstantial to proceed with the prosecution,” according to animal and bylaw services director Bill Bruce.

“Investigators have talked to people we know may have been involved, but they’re day labourers, not arborists,” said Bruce.

“We want the person who ordered the work.”

So do the residents of the southwest community of Britannia, who remain angry that three months later, no one has been held responsible.

A grove of trees and brush behind two homes in the 4200 block of Britannia Drive S.W. were haphazardly levelled with chainsaws in April in what some residents say was a bid to improve views of downtown.

The hack job saw at least two homes along an escarpment overlooking Riverdale Park gain an improvement in their downtown skyline views.

Both homes were sold in early spring.

Amid the public outcry, the city vowed to bring the culprits to justice.

Even Mayor Naheed Nenshi warned “the noose was tightening” for whoever ordered the damage to public assets.

Culprits face a maximum $10,000 fine per tree if it’s cut down on public property.

Contractors hired by the city to clean up the site, which was left littered with stumps, trunks and brush, said the cuts appeared to have been made hastily.

The area’s alderman says he hopes the message is clear.

“This one was egregious because it was so much all at once. This one was too huge to go unnoticed,” said Ward 11 Ald. Brian Pincott.

“I hope it raises awareness that cutting down even one tree is unacceptable.”

Southwest residents, and citizens across Calgary, voiced dismay and called for the culprits to come forward.

“I share that outrage. This one was outrageous,” said Pincott, who adds he anticipated the investigation would be tough.

“I’m not surprised, it was kind of hard to prove at that point. You can kind of know, but it’s difficult to prove it. Investigators have interviewed one witness — a day labourer — who saw what was going on and, fearing the tree cutting on public property was illegal, left.

Bylaw officials say the headlinegrabbing debacle can be resolved easily.

“If they want to come clean now, come forward quietly, plead guilty, make a payment to parks for restitution, and it will all go away,” said Bruce.

While public tips continue to trickle in the case remains wide open.

“With bylaw, all files stay open until we solve them,” said Bruce. “This one could stay open for years. Ultimately someone will tell us what we need to hear.”