Kwesi Millington, a Constable with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, was convicted of perjury earlier this year when a B.C. Supreme Court judge ruled he and his fellow officers acted in collusion to fabricate testimony that was given at the inquiry investigating the death of Robert Dziekanski, The Canadian Press reports.
Dziekanski, 40, didn’t speak English and became agitated after wandering in the Vancouver airport for more than nine hours, and was confronted by four Mounties, The Huffington Post reports. The incident occurred in October, 2007.
Millington stunned Dziekanski numerous times with a Taser after approaching him, accompanied by the other officers, The Canadian Press reports. Dziekanski died on the floor of the airport.
Each of the officers was charged with alleged perjury after their testimony regarding the inquiry, and they were tried separately. This resulted in two acquittals and two convictions.
For Dziekanski’s mother, Zofia Cisowski, Millington’s sentencing has come as a relief.
“It is some justice finally, after almost eight years,” she said, according to CBC News. “It is some justice finally, after almost eight years.”
She had hoped Millington would serve at least two years.
“I am so happy and I am so nervous … I could jump to the sky,” she said.
Millington and former RCMP corporal Monty Robinson were convicted of perjury, while officers Constable Bill Bentley and Constable Gerry Rundel were acquitted, CBC News reports.
In his sentencing decision, justice William Ehrcke remarked that perjury is a serious offense that undermines the administration of justice, The Canadian Press reported. Millington’s lies, he said, hampered the public inquiry.
“That false explanation stood in the way of getting a true explanation,” the judge told the court.
In an earlier instance, Ehrcke had said that Millington’s claim that Dziekanski was standing when he Tasered him a second time was “preposterous.” The judge added that a bystander video made it clear that the man was already on the ground, CBC News reports.
You can watch the video below:
The Crown had recommended a sentence of up to 36 months, Ehrcke said, but he opted for 30 months because he was well aware of the difficulties a police officer may face in prison.
He dismissed a request by the defense for a conditional sentence without jail time.
“While I have no doubt the accused is sad about the death, that is not the same as remorseful,” he noted.
Millington was led quietly to the holding area and his imprisonment was to begin immediately.
His lawyers have appealed the conviction and are expected to appeal the sentence and a different judge granted him bail on Monday based on the appeal.
