Ex-Mountie claims police violated his rights

The lawyer for 43-year-old Jeffrey Rae Gillis, a former P.E.I. RCMP officer facing weapons charges, argued on the opening day of Gillis's trial that police violated his rights.

Gillis has pleaded not guilty to 12 charges including possession of prohibited weapons, breach of trust by a police officerand making false statements to a peace officer.

• RCMP Const. Jeffrey Rae Gillis charged with assault

• Jeffrey Rae Gillis, former RCMP officer charged with assault, sentenced to 30 days

Court heard Monday that the charges stem from an incident last February, in which Charlottetown police responded to a 911 call alleging Gillis had assaulted someone.

Police seized what they saidwas a cache of more than 70 firearms from Gillis's home.

The Serious Incident Response Team, or SiRT, from Halifax was eventually called in, and that's where police potentially violated the charter of rights, according toGillis'slawyer.

"Charlottetown police seized the guns for purposes of public safety,"defence lawyer T.J. Burke told CBC News,

"When SiRT stepped in, they subverted the process into a criminal investigation. That should not have happened."

Officers from both SiRTand Charlottetown police testified Monday, answering questions about how the decision was made to begin a criminal investigation in connection with the weapons.

Police obtained proper warrants and acted within the law,Crown prosecutor Gerald Quinn told the court.

Trial to run 5weeks

Thetrial is slatedto run five weeks.

Judge Jeff Lantz is scheduled to rule on the charter argumentFeb. 10.

Gillis is currently serving a 30-day sentence for the assault he committed last February whenpolice were first called.

• MORE P.E.I. NEWS |'It's a nightmare:' P.E.I. electric crews help restore power in N.B.
• MORE P.E.I. NEWS I'More snow always helps': Lack of snow means lull in sales for some