The mother of a Canadian military veteran who was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder has filed a lawsuit against the RCMP officer who shot and killed her son, as well as against the provincial government and the federal attorney general.
Lorraine Matters is claiming damages related to the death of her son, Greg Matters, as well as her treatment by police in notice of claim filed with Prince George Supreme Court on Tuesday, a day shy of the second anniversary of his death.
Matters was shot by a member of the RCMP's emergency response team after a 30-hour standoff with police at his family's Pineview home on Sept. 10, 2012.
Filing the lawsuit was always something that was going to happen, said Greg's sister Tracey.
"We've had an extraordinary busy last couple of years. And this was always on the cards," Tracey said. "And we thought that the two-year anniversary would be an appropriate time to file."
The notice of claim names Lorraine as the personal representative for Matters and seeks damages for wrongful death and the breach of Matters' constitutional rights.
The defendants are also liable for damages to Lorraine personally for trespass, assault and battery, wrongful arrest, wrongful detention, false imprisonment, negligence, gross negligence, malicious and willful misconduct and breach of her constitutional rights, according to the notice of claim.
RCMP Cpl. Colin Warwick is named as the one who "unlawfully and without justification, assaulted the plaintiff Lorraine Matters by pressing the muzzle of his M-16 assault rifle against her neck, by taking her to the ground and by kneeing her in the chest," during the afternoon of Matters' death, according to the claim's statement of facts.
Lorraine was detained at the Prince George detachment for the duration of the standoff.
The claim also sets out that Warwick "trespassed on the old cabin property and, unlawfully and without justification, killed Gregory John Matters by shooting him twice in the back with bullets from his M-16 assault rifle."
The province and the Attorney General of Canada are liable because of the role the RCMP played in the incident, according to the claim.
"I'd like to see justice. I'd like to see the police accountable for their wrongdoings," said Lorraine.
The Independent Investigations Office (IIO) – in what was their first case – reviewed the RCMP's actions and cleared the officers involved of any criminal wrongdoing.
A coroner's inquest held in Prince George over three weeks in January concluded Matters' death was a homicide as a result of two gunshot wounds to the "left posterior chest" and delivered nine recommendations targeting police procedure and improved support for military veterans with mental health issues.
The full story still needs to be told, said Tracey.
"And there's a lot of facts that still need to come out," she said. "People need to understand what was happening in the lead up to Greg's death and the harassment he encountered before the police trespassed and shot him dead."
While there has been an outpouring of emotional support for the family, the financial toll of seeking those answers is mounting.
"It's been very difficult," said Tracey. "At the end of the day, it's not about getting financial reward, but unfortunately in order to seek the truth, you need a lot of money."
"And that shouldn't have to be," said Lorraine. "It shouldn't have to be all about money to get the truth."
Watching the watchdogs
Tracey, who lives in Australia, has a full schedule while in the area. This week, she and Lorraine are travelling to Vancouver to sit in on the special committee review of the IIO, where they will also be making a submission.
The bipartisan legislative committee, chaired by Prince George-Mackenzie MLA Mike Morris, consists of eight MLAs and is set to evaluate the performance of the civilian-led police watchdog.
A Vancouver lawyer, Mark Jette, was also appointed as a civilian monitor to review the IIO's investigation into Matters' death.
The family is also awaiting the findings of a review of the RCMP compliance commission.
Walking towards peace
On Sept. 21, Tracey is leading a group in what she hopes will be the first of an annual peace walk.
Arranged to coincide with the international Peace Day, the Prince George walk will begin at the Civic Centre at 10:30 a.m. and make its way to city hall. That will be followed by a moment of silence and Tracey said they are also asking businesses to observe one minute of silence around lunch time.
Tracey said the small organizing committee putting the event together is aiming to have at least 50 participants all focused on creating a day of global ceasefire and non-violence.
"No one will die on the 21st of September – that's our ultimate goal," said Tracey.
It's something that her son would have wanted, said Lorraine, who added that since he was a boy, Matters had been hoping for "a better world."
Matters had a peace sign tattooed on his body, Tracey said.
"And we didn't know until he had died and we got a copy of the pathology report that he had a symbol of peace," said Tracey. "The peace walk isn't just about Greg, it's about bringing all people together, especially minority groups together to stand and walk and hope for something better."
