Names of police involved in Michel Vienneau death can be made public

A decision to keep the names of theBathurst police officers involved in the January shooting death of Michel Vienneauconfidential has been overturned by the New Brunswick Court of Appeal.

Michel Vienneau, 51, was killed by police gunfire after his car was stopped outside the train station in January.

Vienneau's common-law partner, Annick Basque, is suing the city for damages. Basque says in her statement of claim that Vienneau's death was caused by police negligence.

Annick Basque, through her lawyerCharles LeBlanc,was granted access to the names of those involved by aCourt of Queen's Bench ruling. However, Justice Larry Landryruledin that case ruled the names must be kept confidential from the public, so pseudonyms were used in all court proceedings.

Tuesday's decision by the province's highest court allows for the confidentiality order to be lifted.

The Court of Appeal also granted Basque's request for the City of Bathurst toreimburse herlegal fees for the Court of Appeal hearing. The city mustpay $2,250 in costs.

Bathurst police have said in court documents they received information Vienneau would be on a train from Montreal and in possession of illegal drugs. Two officers identified Vienneau and intercepted his vehicle with a police car at the Bathurst train station.

The police statement says the officers got out of their car and identified themselves and at that point, Vienneau accelerated without warning and pinned one of the officers against a snowbank.

The other officer was concerned for their partner's safety and fired several shots to stop the vehicle, hitting Vienneau.

The allegations of both parties are in court documents and have not been proven in court. No court date has been set to hear the lawsuit.

RCMPfrom Nova Scotia were brought in to investigate the shooting. Their report was given to New Brunswick's public prosecution services to determine whether any charges are appropriate.