2 more disgraced Mounties plead guilty in relation to Surrey Six murder investigation - Action News
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British Columbia

2 more disgraced Mounties plead guilty in relation to Surrey Six murder investigation

Two more ex-Mounties plead guilty in B.C. Supreme Court in connection with the Surrey Six murder investigation.

David Attew, Cpl. Danny Michaud admit they failed to maintain law and order under the RCMP Act

The Surrey Six killings left six men dead on the 15th floor of the Balmoral Tower on Oct. 19, 2007, in Surrey, B.C. (Richard Lam/Canadian Press)

Three men havebeen sentenced after pleading guilty to misconduct related to their time as RCMPofficerson the investigation into B.C.'s largest gang-related mass murder.

Former Staff. Sgt. David Attewand suspended Cpl. Danny Michaud were sentenced to house arrest after pleading guilty in B.C. Supreme Court on Tuesday. Both men admittedto failing to maintain law and order in the province, contrary to the RCMP Act, during the so-called Surrey Six case.

The RCMP Act is a legal framework that defines how discipline is handed down to officers. An offence under the act is punishable by less-serioussummary conviction, rather than a criminal conviction.

A third officer, Derek Brassington, pleaded guilty to criminal charges nearly two weeks ago. He was also sentenced to house arrest.

The execution-style Surrey Six shootingleftsix men deadon the15thfloor of theBalmoralTower on Oct. 19, 2007, in Surrey, B.C.

Attew and Michaud had separate hearings Tuesday, but both sat equally motionless in dark suits.

Justice Arne Silverman sentenced Attew, 50,to six months' house arrest under 14 conditions, including a curfew.Michaudwas handed three months' house arrest under a similar number of conditions.

Former RCMP officer Derek Brassington is seen outside B.C. Provincial Court in 2013. (CBC)

Brassington was given a conditional sentence of two years less a day to be served in the community after he pleaded guilty to breach of trust and obstruction of justice by compromising the safety and integrity of a witness.

Details of and evidence around themisconduct in all three cases are protected by an extensive publication ban.

Attew retired from the force after being charged in 2011. Brassingtonwas discharged in 2013 for a matter unrelated to the Surrey Six investigation.

Michaud has been suspended for the pastnine years.

6 men charged, 5convicted

Four of the men killed in the mass shooting were suspected gangsters. The other two Ed Schellenberg and Christopher Mohan were innocent men in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Schellenberg was in the buildingto repair a fireplace. Mohanlived on the same floor where the shootings happened.

Eileen Mohan speaks to reporters outside court on Tuesday. Her son, Chris Mohan, was one of two innocent men killed in the mass murder. (Rhianna Schmunk/CBC)

Mohan'smother,Eileen Mohan, was in court to hear Attew and Michaud entertheir pleas Tuesday.

"It gives me some sort of a hope that, finally, they are realizing all the pain and harm that has been caused by their actions on innocent family lives," she said.

"I have to accept [the sentences]with a heavy heart, but I'm grateful that some sort of a sentence has been given and some sort of recognition of misconduct."

For years, Mohansaidshe feared the officers' behaviour would jeopardize the investigation into her 22-year-old son's death.

"There was a lot of anxiety and rumours that it would interfere with justice for Christopher, but I was so glad the RCMP/IHIT team's case was strong enoughto see some really good victories," she said.

People line up to be screened to enter the B.C. Supreme Court in Vancouver on Sept. 30, 2013. The trial of the 2007 Surrey mass murder that left six dead opened in Vancouver that fall. (Jonathan Hayward/Canadian Press)

Six men were charged in connection with the shootings.

Cody Haevischer and Matthew Johnston were convictedof six counts of first-degree murder and one count of conspiracy to commit murder in 2014. They were sentenced to life andhave since filed appeals, which are ongoing.

A person whose identity is protected by a publication ban pleaded guiltyto three counts of second-degree murder in 2009. He was sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for 15 years.

Michael Le pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit murder in 2013 and has served out his prison sentence.

Sophon Sek who helped the killers get into the building and pleaded guilty to break and enter was sentencedto a one-year prison term in 2015.