A Nanaimo woman who suffered serious injuries when an RCMP officer allegedly punched her in the face vows to continue her fight to have the member charged.
Victoria Police announced last week it had concluded its investigation into the incident and no criminal charges were coming against the officer nor the alleged victim.
Camilla McGuire suffered multiple facial fractures and a concussion when she was allegedly struck by one of two Mounties who attended her home on Cedar Road March 2.
She said any civilian would have been charged with assault if they had injured someone by striking them in the face.
“Why should it be different if you are an officer?” McGuire asked. “I think you should be held even more accountable. For example, if a social worker – as I am – was to abuse a child under my care, I would be held criminally responsible and should be charged and held accountable for that.”
Samantha Hulme, regional Crown counsel spokeswoman, said after Crown counsel reviewed the report from Victoria Police, it concluded the Mounties involved acted within the course and scope of their duties and acted reasonably in the circumstances.
“Our charge assessment standard is a two-part standard,” Hulme said. “Is there a substantial likelihood of conviction and is it in the public interest to proceed? So, with respect to the police, that wasn’t met and then also with respect to the separate considerations about the conduct of the McGuires and all of the circumstances, the Crown also thought that our charge assessment standard had not been met with respect to forwarding charges or proceeding with charges.”
McGuire’s lawyer Cameron Ward said he has asked for the report Victoria Police sent to Crown counsel so he can review it.
In an e-mail to the News Bulletin Monday, Ward said his impression is that the investigation and handling of the case confirms why police should not be investigating police.
McGuire said the physical and emotional trauma will be with her forever and as long as police continue to avoid holding their colleagues accountable, nothing will change.
“Really today, I’m feeling a lot more hopeful that this is not done, because as far as I’m concerned, this isn’t done,” McGuire said.
