Robinson felt fit to drive home
Mountie denies that he drank vodka to ‘pervert justice’
An RCMP corporal denied in court Tuesday that he drank vodka after a fatal crash in 2008 in order to hinder the police probe.
Benjamin “Monty” Robinson, 41, took the witness stand at his trial in B.C. Supreme Court in New Westminster. He’s charged with obstructing justice in connection with the incident that killed 21-year-old motorcyclist Orion Hutchinson.
Robinson is best known as one of four officers who Tasered Polish immigrant Robert Dziekanski at Vancouver airport in October 2007. Dziekanski died at the scene.
The crash involving Hutchinson took place a year later. On Oct. 25, 2008, Robinson took two of his kids to a Halloween party at a friend’s house in Delta. He testified he drank about five beers over four hours.
Defence lawyer David Crossin asked if Robinson felt fit to drive. “Yes, I did,” Robinson said. Robinson said he had no concerns about his drinking and is confident his bloodalcohol reading was not over the legal limit.
Robinson left for home with his children around 10 p.m. At the intersection of Sixth Avenue and Gilchrist Drive, Robinson made a left turn and collided with Hutchinson.
Hutchinson was thrown from his motorcycle and died at the scene.
After the crash, Robinson gave his driver’s licence to a bystander and walked the kids home. He didn’t try to help Hutchinson.
“My kids were there and I didn’t want them to see the scene,” Robinson said, adding that bystanders were attending to the motorcyclist.
After settling his kids, Robinson poured himself some vodka. Crossin asked him why. “Why? I don’t know. I wasn’t thinking,” Robinson said. “I went for what was giving me comfort. It was like a letdown, a body letdown. That’s what I did.”
Crossin asked if Robinson drank to pervert the course of justice.
“Did you have that in your mind?” Crossin asked. “No,” Robinson replied. On cross-examination, prosecutor Kris Pechet suggested Robinson knew his admission to police that he drank vodka after the crash would “screw up” the investigation. Robinson agreed. Pechet went on to suggest that Robinson misled police by minimizing how much he drank.
Robinson said he planned to tell police more, but his lawyer advised against it.
Both lawyers asked Robinson about events in his life that resulted in his increased drinking, including the Dziekanski incident.
The Tasering, followed by the release of a video documenting it, caused nightmares, terrors, sweats, nausea and flashbacks.
“It’s like reliving a critical incident all over again,” Robinson said. “I drank more to dull the pain.”
He said people have preconceived notions about him because of the nearconstant media attention and “negative spin.”
“Five years of being under intense media and public scrutiny is trying,” Robinson said.
Closing arguments will take place today.