Lawyer says Mounties broke deal in python case

RCMP promised charges wouldn’t be laid: defence

CAMPBELL TON, N. B .• Jean- Claude Savoie was found not guilty of criminal negligence in the deaths of two boys killed by his escaped python in northern New Brunswick, and now his lawyer says the RCMP broke a deal not to lay a charge in the first place.

“It’s been quite a rollercoaster road for him to have been implicated in this matter, investigated and at one point told that there would be no charges,” Leslie Matchim said.

Matchim said an investigation by New Brunswick RCMP concluded no charge was warranted.

“The investigation does not support an offence of causing death by criminal negligence,” reads a report signed by the lead investigator on Nov. 22, 2013.

That investigation ended three months after Savoie’s African rock python slithered through an uncovered ventilation duct to escape from its enclosure and kill Noah Barthe, 4, and his brother Connor, 6, who were attending a sleepover in Savoie’s apartment.

The case was then subjected to an external review by major crime investigators in Halifax, and they agreed with the initial finding that charges were not warranted.

According to a court document released Thursday, the original investigator sought to have Savoie answer some lingering questions that police had. Matchim said they’d agree if they got a guarantee in writing that no charge would be laid.

“And in fact we received that very thing — a written indication, clearly by the RCMP, that these are the questions and should you provide Mr. Savoie’s answers, he will not be charged.”

However on Feb. 5, 2014, RCMP Insp. Marc Bertrand decided a charge should be laid.

“I hope it bears more scrutiny by someone that the RCMP would give a written guarantee to somebody in exchange for breaking their constitutional right to remain silent that they would not be charged,” Matchim said.