Mayerthorpe inquiry begins with autopsy reports

The parents of four dead Mounties looked on asmedical examiner Dr. Bernard Bannach testifiedMonday at the start of a long-awaitedinquiry into theRCMP constables' slayingsnear Mayerthorpe, Alta.,almost sixyears ago.

In Stony Plain provincial court, Bannach detailed the findings offive autopsies those of the officers and gunman James Roszko.

RCMP constables Anthony Gordon, Leo Johnston, Brock Myrol and Peter Schiemann were killed duringa criminal investigation on Roszko's property March 3, 2005.

Roszko gunned down the four officers guarding a Quonset hut on his property. It had been cordoned off the day before as part of an investigation into possible vehicle theft, during which police had also found marijuana plants.

Johnston was shotfour times, Schiemann three timesand Myrol and Gordon twice each. All the gunshot wounds were the result of fire from arifle, said Bannach.

Roszko died withthree gunshot wounds one wound tohis chest wasself-inflicted while the two others were likely from pistol fire, he said.

The parents of the Mounties have been granted the opportunity to askquestions throughout the inquiry.

Johnston's mother, Grace Johnston, fought through tears to ask ifBannach could determine which shot hit her son first. Bannach said he could not.

Johnston then asked how long it would have taken her son to die. Bannach said10 to 15 seconds, as one of the bullets hit Leo Johnston's spine and heart.

"If there is any comfort in what we heard today it's that Leo and the other three of his colleagues did not suffer," Johnston told reporters afterwards. "They died in what is to be considered instantly."

Following a break, one of the bailiffs who triedrepossessing Roszko's truck the day before the massacre took the stand.

Mark Hnatiw recalled teasingMyrol who was on the job just two weeks out of training.

"I teased him about his shiny new boots," he said. "He took it quite well."

Hnatiw said he overheard police officers talking about how violent and dangerous Roszko was.

He described the officers as beingkeen, alert and professional andbeganweeping on the stand when he described hearing the news the next day about theambush.

"I thought I had put it to rest but it brings back some feelings and just what a travesty it was and what a waste of life," Hnatiw told reporters outside the courthouse.

The events of that day led him to change careers, Hnatiw said.

The inquiry is scheduled to run until Feb. 1.

Public inquiries held under the Alberta Fatality Inquiries Act are limited to establishing the cause, manner, time, place and circumstances of death, as well as the identity of the deceased, police said.

The judge may make recommendations on the prevention of similar occurrences but is prohibited, under the act, from making findings of legal responsibility.