Mark and Rosemarie Surakka are hoping to convince a judge this week that a person’s charter of rights and freedoms don’t get extinguished when they die.
Rosemarie Surakka is suing the government, on her daughter Lisa Dudley’s behalf, alleging Dudley’s right to life was violated when the RCMP didn’t properly investigate a shots-fired call in 2008 in Mission.
Dudley, 37, and her boyfriend, Guthrie McKay, 33, were shot in their rural him on Greenwood Drive, which according to statement of facts, had housed a marijuana grow operation.
McKay was pronounced dead on the scene, but Dudley had survived four days inside the house before she was found. She died en-route to hospital.
The government is applying to have the case dismissed, said Surraka’s lawyer, Monique Pongracic-Speier, who will be basing her arguments on the interpretation of the Canadian charter of rights and freedoms and international law.
The Surrakas say they want accountability and justice for what happened to their daughter.
Former Mission Mountie, Cpl. Mike White, who investigated the shots fired call left the scene after 10 minutes and did not follow up. He was given a written reprimand and docked one day’s pay.
Three people have been charged with the couple’s murder. Last year Jack Woodruff pleaded guilty and was sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for 25 years. Police have also charged Justin MacKinnon and Bruce Main with first-degree murder. The trial for the men is expected to begin on May 27.
— With Record files
