The coroner's inquest into the shooting of Greg Matters ended Thursday afternoon with a four-person jury delivering nine recommendations targeting police procedure and improved support for military veterans with mental health issues.
The jury, which sat through three weeks of often tense testimony and lawyers' questioning over Matters' Sept. 10, 2012 death, concluded it was a homicide as a result of two gunshot wounds to the "left posterior chest."
During testimony, the inquest heard an RCMP emergency response team member shot Matters twice with an assault rifle on his family's Pinko Road property while they were trying to apprehend the military veteran, who had post-traumatic stress disorder.
Just moments before, Matters had pulled out a hatchet and another ERT member had tried unsuccessfully to Taser him. The member who pulled the trigger believed his partner was in danger for his life, the inquest heard.
Matters was 40 years old at the time of his death.
Seven of the recommendations were directed to the B.C. Justice Ministry, the province's director of police services and the RCMP's commanding officer:
- That emergency response team members to wear audio-video recorders while on a takedown.
The jury noted inconsistencies in testimony about what happened on that day and in the hours leading up to Matters' death.
"Audio-video would help clarify circumstances and protect civilians as well as the RCMP," the jury's lead member said in delivering the recommendation.
- Include Arwen 37 guns in the RCMP's arsenal of less-lethal weapons.
Arwen stands for Anti Riot Weapon ENfield and is capable of firing shot designed to knock a target over but not be fatal. The ERT had no such weapon when they confronted Matters.
- Develop a program to effectively train and qualify all ERT members in proper use of all less-lethal weapons.
An ERT member on the scene was carrying a shotgun loaded with bean bag shot but had not been trained in its use, the inquest heard, and only one was trained in using the Taser.
Following Matters' death, all four members testified they subsequently took training in use of a bean bag shotgun.
Follow-up training and qualification should be part of the program, the jury added.
- Within the first year of beginning active duty, Mounties should receive training on dealing with people suffering from mental health issues and receive ongoing training and requalification in subsequent years.
- Police dogs should be trained in apprehending armed suspects and dog handlers should be prepared to deploy them in those situations.
An RCMP dog was on the scene and poised to go after Matters but was called off when the ex-soldier pulled out the hatchet, the inquest heard.
- All data from the smartphones of RCMP members involved in a critical incident should be collected and preserved for subsequent investigations.
The Independent Investigations Officer, the civilian-led watchdog that investigates police-involved deaths and serious injuries, was unable to retrieve any of the text messages sent by RCMP during the incident because they were automatically erased by Blackberry after three days.
The last two recommendations were directed to the federal Minister of National Defence and Veterans Affairs:
- Develop programs to monitor the physical and emotional health and well-being of all armed forces members, including those discharged or dismissed.
The inquest heard from Matters' psychiatrist, Dr. Greg Passey, and the Matters family about the lack of such resources and the stress that caused.
- Adequate support and education for post-traumatic stress disorder be made available to armed forces personnel and their families.
"The evidence given showed the Matters family went through great lengths to find help and support for Greg due to the changes witnessed by them [after his service had ended]," the jury's lead member said.
