Thread by @Tim_Bousquet

TRIGGER WARING. I'm (remotely) live-tweeting the public inquiry into the mass murders of April 18/19, 2020. Details can at times be quite graphic. If you want to avoid this content, you can mute the hashtag #MCC or my account.

This morning, the commission is detailing the murder of Gina Goulet #MCC

After that, the medical examiner will testify about the deaths of Heather O'Brian and Kristen Beaton on Plains Road #MCC

Commission counsellor Roger Burill is making the Gina Goulet presentation. #MCC

Burrill: Unlike Portapique and Hunter Road, we know a lot about this murder. #MCC

As and after Gina Goulet was murdered, RCMP made repeated mistakes pursuing the killer halifaxexaminer.ca/featured/as-an… by @dartjenhen and @Tim_Bousquet

This is an aerial view of Gina Goulet's property #MCC

Burrill: the killer left the Shubenacadie interchange (where he killed Heidi Stevenson and Joe Webber) in Webber's SUV at about 10:55. He arrived at Gina's house, 1.8 kilometres south, at about 10:58 #MCC

Burrill: the killer concealed the SUV behind an outbuilding and the house, then broke into the house with use of a weapon #MCC

Burrill: Gina routinely put a chain across her driveway, but it was driven through this day #MCC

Burrill: there are no direct witnesses of Gina's killing, but there are a few people with relevant info #MCC

Faith Corkum lives on Densmore Road. She saw the smoke from the Shubenacadie fire and went outside to take a photo of it. #MMC

Just before she took the photo, she saw an SUV travelling south on Hgwy 224, then make a U-Turn at Densmore Road, then head back north #MCC

Gina knew about the Portapique killings, and knew the killer #MCC

Gina's daughter Amelia and her husband live in Stewiacke. Amelia and Gina texted back and forth through the morning. #MCC

At 10:58:04am, Gina phoned Amelia. Amelia’s phone rang twice. She picked up, but as she swiped to accept the call, the call on the other end hung up. Amelia texted her mom: “Hellooooo is everything ok? It hung up before I could answer.” There was no response. #MCC

At near that time, Gina fled to the bathroom, the farthest corner of the house, and was shot dead #MCC

Amelia and David went to drive to Gina's house. En route, Amelia tried to contact her mom 16 times. #MCC

Driving up to the house, the couple saw the silver SUV parked behind. Amelia called 911. David went inside #MCC

The couple went north to get help, and ran into Cst. Austin Comeau, who then went to the home #MCC

Distraught, Amelia broke down and went into shock on the side of the highway. #MCC

Lots of evidence was found at Gina's house and in Webber's car — various clothing and equipment, blood connected to the killer, etc. #MCC

Burrill: that the killer was bleeding in the vehicle is consistent with Stevenson having shot him #MCC

The ERT passed Gina's house, but did not see the SUV. The killer was either in the house or had just left #MCC

Burrill isn't getting into it in his oral presentation, but Amelia and David had terrible interactions with the RMCP. #MCC

“In the days following Gina’s murder we had no idea where her body was,” wrote David in a statement presented to the Mass Casualty Commission. “Fortunately, a local funeral director reached out to us to assist us in locating Gina’s body." #MCC

"Amelia and I were never given a formal next-of-kin notification of the death of Gina," continued David. "We were not informed who we should contact to try to find where Gina’s body had been taken and when it was removed from her house.” #MCC

And, after police processed Gina's house, they left it unsecured but didn't tell Amelia and David. David eventually had to go to the hardware store to buy stuff to secure the house. #MCC

Weeks later, Amelia and David found evidence in the house the police had missed — a piece of lead in a bathroom vanity (presumably from a bullet), and a silver shell casing in a closet. #MCC

While their interactions with victims’ family members were wanting, RCMP officers did go to great lengths to care for the pets of the victims. #MCC

We're on break. After, there will be a presentation on the Enfield killing of the killer. I won't have an article out immediately — time constraints make that impossible (I was up most of the night working on the Gina story), but I will have new details & observations #MCC

Commission Anna Mancini is giving the presentation on the Enfield killing of the killer. #MCC

As I say, I'll have an article later, but a few highlights: #MCC

This had to be the largest manhunt in Nova Scotia history, with dozens of cops in the Elmsdale/Enfield area. And yet because they were looking for a man in a silver SUV wearing a reflective vest, the killer eluded them #MCC

The killer even attempted to gas up Gina's car at the Elmsdale PetroCan, JUST AS COPS WERE THERE, but the cops didn't notice him just feet away #MCC

The pump didn't work for either the cops or the killer, so they both left — the killer went to Enfield, to the Big Stop #MCC

And this is... well. A video cam at the Enfield weigh station shows a marked RCMP SUV driving the wrong way (north) up the 102 off ramp at 11:22:29am. This one: #MCC

"The identity of the member(s) in the SUV is unknown and the subject of ongoing investigation" #MCC

Less than a minute later, at 11:23:20, Gina Goulet's car is seen on the same video coming down the highway ramp #MCC

"Note: a similarly marked RCMP SUV can be seen driving south past the weigh station at approximately 11:26:38"

All RCMP vehicles are equipped with GPS, so if they don't figure this out, the conspiracy theories will go wild #MCC

Mancini is showing video of the killer at the PetroCan, just a few feet away from RCMP officers. #MCC

Whoever called in that mistaken siting of the killer at the Truro Sobeys caused a lot of problems for cops. It confused the heck out of them #MCC

Oh: there's another near blue-on-blue shooting involving Cst.s Brown and Melanson — the SAME cops who nearly shot Cst. MacDonald on Highway 4 and DID shoot up the Onslow Fire Hall #MCC

Brown and Melanson passed a police roadblock, and saw a man standing behind a white SUV wearing camouflage, carrying a weapon. #MCC

Here's the radio transcript: #MCC

Cops were VERY edgy, and wanted to shoot someone. #MCC

Mancini is showing various videos from the Big Stop #MCC

One vid shows the killer arriving at pump #5, and then 24 seconds later Hubley's SUV arriving at pump #6 #MCC

Due to the limitations of the system that provided documents, this is the first time I've seen the videos. The overhead vid is fairly consistent with Hubley's description of events #MCC

as I see it (feel free to disagree!) the killing at the Big Stop seems straight-forward and pretty consistent with Hubley's and McLeod's statements. imo, it's the stuff before the killing that is problematic #MCC

Which is to say (gently) that conspiracy theories asserting, well, bullshit, take our eyes off the very real misdoings, bad actions, and fuckups of the RCMP #MCC

Hubley and McLeod will testify tomorrow under oath #MCC

Mancini is detailing all the weaponry recovered from Gina Goulet's car: #MCC

I'll spare you details of the death of the killer, except to say that while he shot 1 bullet at himself, the medical examiner determined the cause of death was NOT suicide, but rather homicide, i.e., Hubley and McLeod killed him #MCC

This slide summarizes what happened with Heidi Stevenson's firearm #MCC

Mancini is through with her presentation. So we're taking a break, and then Medical Examiner will testify #MCC

We're resuming. Medical Examiner Dr. Matthew Bowes is testifying #MCC

The killer had no alcohol or drugs in his blood #MCC

Bowes is testifying about 2 wounds to the killer's head. Long story short: 1 is consistent with a suicide attempt, the other is consistent with a shot going through something first, and it not likely to have killed him #MCC

Another 20 minute break #MCC

Bowes is back. Mark Pineo, lawyer for some of the victims' families, is questioning him #MCC

Pineo: in Sept 2021, you gave the #MCC an affidavit, and you concentrated on the head wounds. That was at request of commission counsel? Bowes: yes

Random thought: serial killers study each other, so I'm guess that there are now a dozen dudes across North America making their own fake police vehicles

Random thought #2: one (tiny) thing I've learned from the #MCC is that people really need to get the time stamps right on their video cams, and stop using the motion-activated ones

We're back. Bowes will now be questioned about the death of Heather O'Brien. Bowes went to the Plains Road scene the evening of the murder #MCC

Bowes: O'Brien died from multiple gunshot wounds #MCC

This may be graphic. Mute #MCC if you don't want to see it.

Bowes: there were 4 shots. The first went through the centre of her brain. The second went through the aorta, which supplies blood to the brain #MCC

Bowes: the moment that first shot went through her brain, she lost consciousness, and it was never going to come back #MCC

Bowes: "I don't think I've ever relied on Fit Bit data in my career" #MCC

Mancini: so the Fit Bit data doesn't affect your findings? Bowes: No. These injuries caused death rapidly and finally. #MCC

Bowes: "There was nothing that could have been done. The injuries were too severe" #MCC

The victims' families' lawyers will meet for 20 minutes, and then come back with more questions for Bowes #MCC

We're resuming. Pineo is again asking follow-up questions #MCC

Pineo: in your post-mortem for Heather O'Brien, you say there was no medical intervention, but are you aware that 2 RCMP intervenes? Bowes: What I mean, is, is there something on the body that shows that — adhesive leads, broken ribs, etc #MCC

So things were done, but this doesn't rise to the level on intervention #MCC

Pineo: You said she died in "seconds", do you stand by that? Bowes: yes, instants or seconds, something like that. But a heart might beat after death is all but ensured #MCC

Pineo: She could have lived for a while? Bowes: O'Brien's brain injury is different from the brain injury of the killer when he shot himself #MCC

Pineo: how long between when she was shot and when she died? Bowes: it depends on your concept of life. If you understand that her life is contained in her brain, it was instant. But her heart could've beat for a few minutes #MCC

Bowes: dying people, and even dead people, can make a gurgling sound #MCC

Pineo: who is legally able to pronounce someone deceased? Bowes: there's no formal declaration of death. If you come across an unresponsive person and don't treat them, or end treatment, in effect you've declared them dead #MCC

That's it for Bowes. Now a 10-minute break for lawyers to talk about next submissions #MCC

So now victims' families' lawyers will be making submissions about gaps, errors, etc in foundation documents tabled so far #MCC

First is Jane Lenehan, who represents the family of Gina Goulet #MCC

Lenehan: my clients say enough is known about her death, but they want some "why"s #MCC

Lenehan: there's a lot of disclosure out there, too much for any one person to work through in this format #MCC

Lenehan: the first issue is situational awareness. Teenagers can download an app and find out where each other are. But Beselt had to shout into the woods "who are you?" and 12 hours later Cst. Morrison didn't know who was approaching him #MCC

Lenehan: repeatedly, officers didn't know where each other were #MCC

Lenehan: we need experts on communications. We want Darryl MacDonald recalled #MCC

Lenehan: secondly: public alerting. People have the right to know when they're in danger #MCC

Lenehan: the vast majority of the public had no idea about the threat to them. Had they know, they could have protected themselves, also they could have noticed the killer #MCC

Lenehan: the best thing is a public alert that goes to every phone. Sure, there are potential downsides, but the commission needs to hear about this and find solutions to the downsides #MCC

Lenehan: it's hard to understand how the air support can be "off-duty sick for planned maintenance" and there's no backup #MCC

Lenehan: Ontario and Quebec quickly approved air help, but the request wasn't made until 10:49am Sunday #MCC

Lenehan: we want you to look at the containment issues in Portapique, and on April 19, and examining RCMP movements on the ground #MCC

Lenehan: and we want you to look at length about the killer's access to weapons #MCC

Now, Josh Bryson.: the way information is collected and distributed is not good #MCC

Bryson: this appeared to be a mass casualty very early on. Info had to be put out quickly #MCC

Bryson: 13 people were killed in about 40 minutes. If it's taking too long to get info out, the perpetrator is gone, he moved on #MCC

Bryson: in the 10:01 Blair call, gunshots were heard, but the severity wasn't broadcast to members #MCC

Bryson: the IARD team didn't know that there were 4 children there. This is a problem with the quality of info #MCC

Bryson: at 10:22, it was still being considered as a nuisance call. At 10:24 Millbrook offered to help, but was told to hang on, we'll check it out #MCC

Bryson: responding officers should be able to hear 911 calls #MCC

Bryson: Richard Ellison called in about his son, and that wasn't broadcast for 10 minutes #MCC

Bryson: Between 10pm and 11am the next day, no one at all mentioned Cobequid Court #MCC

Bryson: in Wentworth, the calltaker took 7 minutes to alert officers of a homicide #MCC

Bryson: At 9am on Sunday, there were still cops on the ground who don't know there are other ways out of Portapique #MCC

Bryson: on the morning of the 19th, officers coming on shift weren't being informed. Why isn't this uploaded to a central computer system #MCC

Bryson: Brown and Melanson didn't know the Onslow fire hall was a comfort station #MCC

Bryson: foundational documents can not replace witnesses. (He mentions "yesterday"s testimony, but means Monday's) #MCC

Bryson: "trauma-informed" shouldn't be used to curtail testimony and truth-finding #MCC

Steve Topshee: references Darryl MacDonald's statement #MCC

Topshee: MacDonald is the OCC commander in PEI #MCC

Topshee: MacDonald talked about the radio system in Portapique, which had GPS capabilities for the vehicle and the person, but it wasn't enabled #MCC

Topshee: the CAD system also had mapping system #MCC

Topshee: MacDonald talked about the helicopter that finally was used, and the communications problem related to it #MCC

Topshee: Radio communications were broadcast over an open system. This was an error [huh] #MCC

Topshee: MacDonald also got into the turf wars between police agencies. This is an emerging trend that needs to be dealt with #MCC

Topshee: MacDonald talked about lack of training on the systems RCMP has. He's been talking about this for 6 years #MCC

Topshee: an inquiry's recommendations should be legislated #MCC

Now up: Sandra McCulloch: the foundational documents are cursory. The presentations are too brief. Especially Highway 4, Wentworth, and Plains Road #MCC

McCulloch: the conflicting accounts about Heather O'Brien's death, for example. Or the civilians outside Onslow fire hall. #MCC

McCulloch: if it's important enough to put in the foundational document, then it's important enough to put in the presentation #MCC

McCulloch: there's a delay between the presentation and our ability to speak to it. Some of this was presented publicly 2 weeks ago, and we're only talking it about it now #MCC

McCulloch: there are different accounts of the same story, for example at Onslow. We don't know when we're going to hear the other pieces of that story #MCC

McCulloch: we must hear from witnesses directly, and they must be questioned in a public way to test their evidence (basic cross-examination) #MCC

McCulloch: we need to hear from Brown and Melanson about Glenholme #MCC

McCulloch: the first person on the scene at Hunter Road has never been interviewed by anyone #MCC

McCulloch: cst. Bray was asked if there were 10-7s (deaths) at Hunter Road, and he asked for a private call #MCC

McCulloch: Someone saw a car with a pushbar at Highway 4/ Highway 227 #MCC

McCulloch: we need more info about Plains Road scene #MCC

McCulloch: there are lots of problems with video footage #MCC

McCulloch: we want to hear from Cst. Kelly, who was at the PetroCan when the killer was there #MCC

McCulloch: we haven't yet heard from Cst. Colford (who was at the roadblock on Portapique Beach Road). She asked for accommodations — to provide evidence by affidavit. That's "inadequate." #MCC

McCulloch: there's a "closed-door approach" to considering accommodations, with no input from us #MCC

Now, Tara Miller: we've been wanting to hear oral evidence, but we've only heard from 8 witnesses in less than 4 days of testimony #MCC

Miller: we want an expert to speak to Lisa Banfield's phone records during the murders #MCC

Miller: the preliminary report is to be out May 1. We don't see how any factual accounts can be included in that without oral evidence #MCC

Miller: we're running out of time. The schedule doesn't leave much time for oral testimony #MCC

Miller: there are significant issues around access to resources. Sometime there were not enough — there were only 4 officers on duty in Colchester county #MCC

Miller: other researches that didn't exist: night vision, GPS mapping #MCC

Miller: you can go on SnapChat and find the public AND private roads in Portapique, but the RCMP can't do that #MCC

Miller: the process to get info to the public was painfully slow and ultimately unworkable #MCC

Today's proceeding are over. Tomorrow, Hubley and McLeod will testify. I'll be back then. I need a break, but will have several articles in coming days #MCC