RCMP investigator compares Don Dunphy case to 'battered wife who shot husband' - Action News
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RCMP investigator compares Don Dunphy case to 'battered wife who shot husband'

The police officer who investigated the Don Dunphy shooting compared it to a case of a battered wife shooting her husband, and says he now regrets doing that.

Sgt. Monty Henstridge now says that was 'probably not a good idea'

RCMP Sgt. Monty Henstridge took RNC Const. Joe Smyth's statement the day after Don Dunphy was fatally shot. (CBC)

TheRCMPofficer who took a statement fromConst. JoeSmythafter he shot a man at his home inMitchellsBrook compared the case to a "battered wife shooting her husband."

Sgt. MontyHenstridgesaid Friday it was one of the mistakes he made during his handling of the investigation.

Henstridge made the admission while continuing his testimony at a judicial inquiry into the Dunphy shooting.

During a discovery hearing with inquiry lawyers last year,Henstridgesaid he shared information withSmyth, a Royal Newfoundland Constabulary officer, "like he would with a battered wife who had shot her husband."

Under questioning Friday by the lawyer for Dunphy's daughter, Meghan Dunphy, Henstridge said that "probably wasn't a good example to use."

During an investigation information should stay in a silo.- Monty Henstridge

He said he made "numerous errors" while taking a statement fromSmython April 6, 2015 the day after the shooting.

"During an investigation information should stay in a silo because you don't know where an investigation may go," he said.

Henstridgetestified Thursday that he regretstelling Smyththat he saved his own life by shooting Dunphy.

Smyth went to Dunphy'shome in Mitchells Brook to speak with the 59-year-oldabout a tweet hesent that was flagged by then-premier Paul Davis's office as a potential concern.

He testified at the inquiry that he fired four times in self-defenceafter Dunphy pointed a 22-calibre rifle at him.

Dunphy's daughter, Meghan Dunphy, does not believe the officer's account of her father's death and has told the inquiry she quickly lost confidence in the police investigation into his April 2015 shooting death.

PC leader Paul Davis, premier at the time of Don Dunphy's death, is set to testify Friday at the public inquiry into the man's fatal shooting by RNC Const. Joe Smyth. (Sherry Vivian/CBC)

Davis, who is now an MHA and leader of the PC Party, also testified at the inquiry Friday, saying he knew nothing about the Dunphy tweets before the shooting.

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