He never served, but Veterans Affairs pays for convicted murderer's PTSD treatment

The decision by Veterans Affairs Canada to pay for the treatment for a Halifax man who never served in the military and gotPTSD after murdering off-duty police officer Catherine Campbell is upsetting an advocate for veterans as well as a member of Campbell's family.

Christopher Garnier, 30, is serving a life sentence for second-degree murder in the strangling of Campbell, 36, whose body was found in September 2015near Macdonald Bridge in Halifax.

At trial, an expert for the defence testified Garnier developed post-traumatic stress disorderas a result of the killing. At a sentencing hearing earlier this month, a Crown prosecutortold the court that Garnier'streatment is being paid for by Veterans Affairs because his father, Vince Garnier, is a veteran.

"In this circumstance, I find it really hard to chew on that we're spending taxpayers' moneylike thatto help someone when we also have veterans that are having a really hard time getting treatment through VAC," said retired sergeant Colin Saunders, who organized a protest over veterans' benefits earlier this year on Parliament Hill in Ottawa.

"Certainly, there's lots of veterans whose family members need help or need services and they're not getting it."

Garnier killed Campbell, a constable with the police force in Truro, N.S., in a Halifax apartment on Sept. 11, 2015, hours after the two met at a downtown bar. He put her body in a green compost bin and wheeled her to the bridge.

InDecember, a jury convicted him of second-degree murder and interfering with a dead body.

A Nova Scotia Supreme Courtjudge ruled earlier this month thatGarniermust serve at least 13 years behind bars before he can apply for parole.

The defence had argued that parole eligibility should be set at the minimum of 10 years, in part because Garniersuffered from PTSDrelated to killing Campbell.

The court heard his father, who had served in the Canadian Forces, also hasPTSD, and that getting treatment for his son helps them both.

At the time of his arrest, Garnierhad just started a job with a safety equipment company.

Veterans Affairs won't comment on the case, due to privacy reasons.However, in a written statement, the department explained how family members can access benefits.

"When a man or woman serves in Canada's Armed Forces or theRCMP, their whole family serves with them. That is why the government of Canada has made it a priority to not only improve benefits and services for our nation's veterans, but for their families as well," the statement said.

"As such, access for family members of veterans to counselling and other services may be provided in circumstances where it is determined that the provision of these services will assist the veterans in achieving their rehabilitation goals."

Other mental health services Veterans Affairs said it may supporton a short-term basis include marital counselling, family counsellingand access to social work services.

But Saunders said ifa serving military member was convicted of murder, that person would bekicked out with a dishonourable discharge and no benefits.

"I really believe that this current government has not made veterans their priority," said Saunders, a formerartillery sergeant who retired fromthe Canadian Army in February 2017 after serving more than more 21 years.

Campbell's aunt wrote in a public Facebook post that Garnierhastwisted the system andshe is "sickened by this."

"There are actual veterans who returned from war, or multiple wars, and they are killing themselves because they can't get help for the PTSD they suffer from through no fault of their own!" Mandy Reekie Wong wrote on Aug. 14, shortly after Garnier was sentenced.

Campbell's family declined to speak toCBCNews about the issue, saying it is trying "to get back to some sort of peace in our lives now."

Garnier's lawyer, Joel Pink, declined a requestfor an interview.