Ex-Mountie avoids jail time after pleading guilty to misconduct in Surrey Six murder investigation

A former RCMP officer won't serve jail timeafterpleading guilty to breach of trust and obstruction of justice in connection with his misconduct in the investigation into the deadliestgangland shooting in B.C.'s history.

Derek Brassington, a former sergeant, entered his guilty plea in B.C. Supreme Court in Vancouver on Friday morning.

Later in the afternoon, he was sentenced totwo years less a day to be served in the community under a number of conditions. He's also been ordered to pay$10,000 in restitution.

Details of and evidence around Brassington's misconduct are protected by a publication ban, but hearing them read aloud in court had the former officer sobbing.

The Surrey Six

Brassington was charged with a total of seven offences in 2011.All were related to his role inthe investigation into the so-called Surrey Six killings, which left six men dead on the 15th floor of the Balmoral Tower on Oct. 19, 2007.

At the time of the killings,Metro Vancouver was in the midst of a gang wardominated by adeadly rivalry between the Red Scorpionsand the UN gangs.

Four of the men who were killed in the highrise were described by police as having criminal ties, but the other two Chris Mohan and Ed Schellenberg were innocent bystanders.

On Friday,Brassington sat up straight in the prisoner's box in a dark suit and black tie. At times, he leaned his head back against the glass backboard. At others, he leaned forward and cried quietly with his face buried in hishands.

He stood a head taller than his lawyer when he arosein court to admit his guilt on both counts.

"Guilty, my Lord," Brassington said in a loud, clear voice.

B.C. Supreme Court Justice Arne Silverman's reasons for Friday's sentencing decision are also protected under the publication ban.

Other condition include house arrest, a curfew and 100 hours of community service.

The former officer wasdischarged from the RCMP in 2013 for a matter unrelated to the Surrey Six investigation.

Six men charged, five convicted

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 who pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit murder in 2013 has now 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.

In December 2017,a B.C. Supreme Court judge stayed murder and conspiracy charges against gangster Jamie Bacon.The full reasons for Justice Kathleen Ker's decision in that case have been sealed by the court.