Strongquill trial hears about dramatic showdown

A jury in Brandon heard more testimony Wednesday about the showdown between police and three suspects in the death of RCMP Const. Dennis Strongquill.

Dennis Strongquill

Prosecutors say Danny Sand, Robert Sand and Laurie Bell fled to a motel in Wolseley, Sask. after shooting Strongquill near the RCMP detachment in Russell, Man. in December 2001.

Several police officers have testified they did not attempt to negotiate with the suspects as they hid behind the motel.

Cpl. Darren Topping, a member of the RCMP's elite emergency response team, was watching the front of the motel from a position on a nearby highway. Topping testified that the designated negotiator was not on the scene; that person was miles away at a command post set up by police.

Topping said the team could not allow a negotiator in until the area was secure. He said it wasn't safe for the shooter on the roof and two people hiding behind the motel.

He testified he heard at least two officers at different locations, yelling at the suspects to raise their hands. However, under cross-examination, Topping said he never heard anyone use a loud hailer or any other amplification device before one suspect was shot on the roof. The suspect, Danny Sand, was killed.

Topping said he only heard the loud hailer being used as two other suspects, Robert Sand and Laurie Bell, came around the back of the motel to surrender. The pair were later charged with first-degree murder in Strongquill's death.

Topping was also part of the team that entered the motel room where the suspects were staying. Inside, he found a sawed-off shotgun, a gym bag full of bullets and 12-gauge shotgun shells scattered on the floor.

More RCMP officers are expected to testify on Wednesday.

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