After RCMP officers charged with manslaughter, family calls court hearing delays 'heart-wrenching' - Action News
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British Columbia

After RCMP officers charged with manslaughter, family calls court hearing delays 'heart-wrenching'

Dale Culver died in police custody in northern B.C. in 2017. Almost six years later, two RCMP officers have been charged with manslaughter and three others with obstruction of justice. Now, Culver's family is waiting for their day in court.

Arraignment postponed for RCMP officers charged in Dale Culver's 2017 death

Five members of an Indigenous family stand outside a building holding pictures of a smiling man and a cardboard sign partially folded that says, Indigenous lives matter.
Members of Dale Culver's family mourn for him outside the Prince George courthouse. (Betsy Trumpener/CBC)

Family members of an Indigenous man who died in police custody travelled from across B.C. and Alberta to the Prince George courthouse Tuesdayfor the arraignment of five RCMP officers charged with manslaughter and obstruction of justice in his death.

There, Dale Culver's family learned the scheduled court hearing for the officers had been postponed for the second time in twomonths.

"Again, at the 11th hour, we're finding out the court has been adjourned. It's just been so heart-wrenching for everybody,"Culver's cousin Debbie Pierre told CBC News outside the courthouse.

An Indigenous woman holds a framed picture of a smiling man outside a building.
Virginia Pierre holds a photo of her nephew, Dale Culver, outside the Prince George courthouse. (Betsy Trumpener/CBC )

"We're not going to go away silently regardless of if they continuously adjourn this," said Pierre, who saidshe is still seeking justice, almost six years after her cousin's death.

In an email to CBC News, Ann Seymour, aspokesperson for the B.C. Prosecution Service, said it was not uncommon for initial court appearances to be adjourned "from time to time ... to ensure all parties are ready to proceed to the next stage of the process."

Three people bang on drums outside a building under a clear blue sky.
Drummers play an Indigenous healing song outside the Prince George courthouse on Tuesday, May 2, 2023. (Betsy Trumpener/CBC )

On Tuesday morningon the sidewalk outside the courthouse, drummers from Prince Georgeplayed an Indigenous healing song as some of Culver's family members wept and hugged each other.

Pierre said that growing up together in the communities of Granisle and Witset, Culverwas like a brother to her.

"He was always so comical, and he just loved life. Even in serious situations, he'd make a joke. And his children were the highlight of his life."

Culver was the father of three children, the youngest an infant when he died in police custody.

The 35-year-old man was a member of the Wet'suwet'en and Gitxsan First Nations.

RCMP officers charged

A report from the Independent Investigations Office of B.C. said that after Culver was arrested by Prince George RCMP on July 19, 2017, he had trouble breathing and died.

Three members of an Indigenous family stand outside a building holding two signs, each with a photograph of a smiling young man, while a third sign with more pictures of the same person on it reads: Indigenous lives matter.
Dale Culver's family gather outside the Prince George courthouse. (Betsy Trumpener/CBC )

Earlier this year, almost six years after Culver died, two Prince George RCMP officers, Const. Paul Ste-Marie and Const. Jean Francois Monettewerecharged with manslaughter.

Three other Mounties, ConstArthur Dalman, Const Clarence Alexander MacDonald, and Sgt Bayani [Jon] Eusebio Cruz, face charges of obstruction of justice.

As Pierre waits for the arraignment hearing in the case, she said she's closely followed the inquest into the police custody death of Myles Grayand is in contact with Gray's mother through social media.

A man and a woman hold portraits of a smiling man outside a building.
Dale Culver's aunt and father hold his portraits outside the Prince George courthouse. (Betsy Trumpener/CBC )

On Monday, a coroner's jury declared Myles's death a homicide and made threerecommendations to the Vancouver Police Department, including the use of body cameras and a review of de-escalation training.

Still, after countless inquests into police-involved deaths, Pierre said there is no mechanism to ensureinquest recommendations intended to prevent deaths in similar circumstancesare ever put into practice.

"If they were implemented over the years, we would not be in this position. We would not have to mourn our loved ones. There would not be children left orphans."

The arraignment for the officers charged in Culver's death has been rescheduled for June 6, 2023.

Dan McLaughlin, a spokesperson for the B.C. Prosecution Service, said the accused are not required to attend their arraignment and would likely not be there in person.