Family hopes hearing will reveal truth about shooting

The mother of a slain Winnipeg man hopes the circumstances surrounding her son's death will become clear when a delayed arbitration hearing finally begins.

It's been more than a year since Diane Tokarchuk's son Kevin was shot and killed in the garage of the family's Churchill Drive home.

Police Chief Jack Ewatski put the officers on administrative leave after the shooting amid allegations they had information in advance about a plot to kill the man, but didn't warn the 24-year-old or his family.

A police arbitration case about the officers was suddenly adjourned before it even began on Monday, after the police department released new information to the parties involved.

• Aug. 31, 2004: Tokarchuk officers' hearing delayed

No one is saying anything about the new information. It may be a report by the Ontario Provincial Police, who reviewed the matter. In any case, Barry Gorlick, the lawyer representing the Tokarchuk family, says they want everything involved with the case made public.

"We'll be here, ready, willing and able to listen to the start of evidence, if evidence is called, and hopefully to try to answer a question that has been torturing the family ever since Kevin was killed, and that is: 'Why did this happen?'"

Gorlick says the family will take the latest delay in stride.

"We respect the fact that seasoned lawyers have come to the conclusion that, for a variety of reasons, they need more time," he says. "The family has waited this long. They're prepared to wait a little longer."

Lawyers involved in the arbitration hearing say it will be at least two weeks before they're ready to continue.

No one has been arrested for Tokarchuk's shooting, which police say was related to the killing of a biker-gang member exactly one year earlier. Tokarchuk's brother was charged in connection with that death.