Thread by @Tim_Bousquet

I'm at proceedings of the Mass Casualty Commission, the inquiry into the mass murders of April 18/19, 2020. If you want to avoid this thread, you can mute the hashtag #MCC

Today, we're back in Truro. There are 2 "foundational" documents to be released — "Support Services for
Survivors, Families and Communities," which is being discussed first, then "Public Communications from
the RCMP and Government after the Mass Casualty," later. #MCC

We will publish an article about the latter, as soon as it's tabled. #MCC

The #MCC lawyer is explaining how Victim Services were brought in after the murders. I've heard a range of opinion from the survivors; some praise the efforts, others fault them.

Victim Services opened 189 files related to the mass murders, and allocated a half million dollars, but only a quarter of the money has been spent. #MCC

About 70 RCMP officers accessed sick leave after the murders. So, lots of RCMP officers from Quebec and Ontario came to Nova Scotia to assist, but also incidentally causing a COVID outbreak among the NS RCMP #MCC

Victim Services provided $85 per counselling session, but that was below the going rate (it wasn't mentioned what the going rate is) #MCC

There have been a number of remembrances organized; was an online vigil on April 24, 2020 created by Tiffany Ward. There have been others, including a memorial walk in Victoria Park, but there still hasn't been a physical memorial, whether a monument or park #MCC

Now, Cst. Wayne “Skipper” Bent is testifying; he is the RCMP's family liaison #MCC

Bent was called in to work at 2am on Sunday, April 19. He understood that the murders were over by then, but of course they weren't. #MCC

Bent: there is no RCMP policy document or training for a family liaison officer #MCC

#MCC lawyer Emily Hill: why were you chosen for this role? Bent: "They knew I'd be able to treat people with dignity and compassion"

Bent worked with the Major Crime Unit. When he came to work on April 19, his first chore was to create a psychological profile of the killer. This is not criticism of Bent, but again: he had never met or talked with the killer. A lot of this strikes me as junk science #MCC

Bent ended up going to the Plains Road murders for several hours before heading back to Bible Hill to begin family support efforts #MCC

These excerpts from yesterday's document relate just how many people were looking for info — over 100 family members to people who lived in Portapique #MCC

As I reported here, the Jenkins family appreciated Bent's help: halifaxexaminer.ca/featured/a-tra… #MCC

Bent: "telling someone their loved one is dead is the worst thing to do." [chokes up] He talks about the need for compassion, and providing as much follow-up info as possible. #MCC

Given the large number of inquiries, Bent tried to find 1 primary contact per family, but some of the families "split" and for that and other reasons, not all the info was being conveyed to all family members #MCC

In the middle of dealing with families, Bent (as a Major Crime officer) was sent back to Portapique, and *he* discovered the body of Emily Hill #MCC

Bent: I was assigned to look for more deceased or live victims. | This is maddening (again, not criticism of Bent), that it was 18 hours after the shootings began, it only then occurred to the RCMP to look for people who may have needed medical help #MCC

Nova Scotia is a small place, so Bent knew personally some of the people he was dealing with. He went to high school with one of the Banfield sisters (not Lisa). #MCC

As well as the families of the deceased, Bent was additionally assigned to assist some of the survivors — the Fishers, the MacDonalds, and Lisa Banfield #MCC

Bent was not assigned to the family of Heidi Stevenson or Chad Morrison #MCC

Bent is addressing the ITOs (Information to Obtain, which is court document cops file to get a search warrant). The Halifax Examiner and other media went to court to access them, and some families thought the documents should've been released to them first #MCC

Bent: there were family pets in Portapique that needed attending to. Some families needed medicine or documentation in the homes, some wanted personal possessions for use in funerals #MCC

Tara Long (Aaron Tuck's sister) arranged for the crime scene cleaning of homes in Portapique. Bent worked with the company, which offered its services for free #MCC

Bent: Gina Goulet's family had her home cleaned. "It never occurred to me before" that house cleaning would be an issue. It wasn't in any training. "I feel bad about that" #MCC

Bent, relating the cars that were crime scenes: "I tried to tell folks, you don't want to see these vehicles." He encouraged them to go through insurance companies. MORE #MCC

The insurance company wanted to sell Kristen Beaton's car in Nova Scotia, and Bent intervened, as he feared first, that Nick Beaton would see it driving around, and second, that some terrible person would make it a sort of perverse keepsake #MCC

Bent says he encouraged the O'Brien family not to obtain the car Heather was killed in, but they insisted. There were body parts still in the car, as it hadn't been processed by an insurance company. "If that was my mom, I wouldn't want that to happen." #MCC

Bent: families wanted all sorts of keepsakes, flowers from the memorials, booties, etc. #MCC

Bent worked full-time as the family liaison through September 2020, but he says he still speaks with some. Some families communicate more than others, he says #MCC

Bent: "I had people tell me they were suicidal, abusing alcohol." He was offered assistance, but he said it was important to keep the same information going out consistently #MCC

Bent: some families wanted to go to Portapique, but he wouldn't take them as there were people in the community who were angered that Portapique was becoming a tourist attraction. He showed them maps and satellite photos instead #MCC

We're on a 20-minute break #MCC

We're back. Now lawyers for the families will cross-examine Bent. #MCC

First is Josh Bryson, who represents the Bond family (Peter and Joy Bond were killed on Cobequid Court). Bent learned of the bodies on Cobequid Court, and then went to the scene at 5:30pm on Sunday #MCC

Bryson is asking about the screen door of the Bond home, as it was "hanging off its hinges," and Peter Bond was in the doorway. This is important because Nick Dorrington earlier in the day was outside the house but didn't notice the ajar door #MCC

Todd MacDonald, who represents Tara Long and Scott McLeod, now questioning Bent. #MCC

MacDonald suggests that it was Tara Long's mother, and not Tara herself, who arranged for the Tuck house to be cleaned. Bent says he checked his notes yesterday, and he still believes it was Tara #MCC

This is how "next of kin" is decided in Nova Scotia #MCC

We're breaking for lunch, and now I get to explore Truro's limited lunch options (went to Murphy's yesterday) #MCC

I'm back, a little late. Lawyer Mike Scott is questioning Bent. Scott: did you deal with [Truro police] deputy chief Currie? Bent: "I don't even know who he is" #MCC

Bent told one family member that he (Bent) thought maybe the family's loved one was the first killed. Bent says he made clear it was his opinion, but word spread among the families #MCC

Scott: were there other occasions when you gave your opinion? Bent: not really, but they would do things like say 'the media is calling, what should I do?' and I would say, well, it's up to you, but... that's not RCMP policy. #MCC

At John Zahl's house, there was a very large cat that died and its remains were found. Before it was identified it as a cat, Bent was assigned to ask family if there might have been a grandchild in the house #MCC

Bent says the "command triangle" tasked him to make the call. Scott: do you know why they asked you to make that call before the remains were tested? Bent: no. #MCC

Kristen Beaton's car was brought to the Bible Hill detachment. Scott is asking Bent about his interaction with Nick Beaton. As Bent is speaking, an audience member yells "you're under oath, Wayne!" #MCC

Scott is exploring how Kristen Beaton's possessions were returned to Nick. #MCC

Heather O'Brien's article was returned to her son. There was a spent shell casing in the car. Scott: should that have been there? Bent: I'm not responsible for the condition of the car #MCC

Kristen Beaton's phone was collected, and Nick Beaton gave Bent the password. Nick wanted it back, as it had photos and her voice on it. But it took a long while to return it to Nick. #MCC

Scott: you implied to Nick that you had to look at all possibilities, including that they needed to rule out that Kristen had a relationship with the killer. Bent: we were looking at everything... why was he looking at certain people. Nick Beaton is now yelling, and crying #MCC

Several audience members are screaming obscenities, yelling that Bent is lying under oath. The commissioners have called a break. One woman is bawling her eyes out. A man screamed "fuck you!" #MCC

To be clear: the suggestion, obviously held earnestly by the Beaton family, is that Bent told Nick Beaton that they were investigating whether Kristen Beaton had a relationship, presumably sexual, with the killer. There's ZERO evidence for this. #MCC

And the suggestion is absurd. The killer was roaming around half the province, being chased by police from the Fisher house, and he just happened upon someone he supposedly had a relationship with? It's nonsense. #MCC

And Heather O'Brien, just down the road, same thing? #MCC

So far as I know, Nick Beaton has not cooperated with the #MCC. At least, he doesn't appear to have agreed to be interviewed by the commission's investigators

It's under embargo until the document is tabled, so I can't say what's in it, but we have an article lined up that will probably bring some attention #MCC

Nick Beaton and the rest of who I assume are his family have returned. We're just waiting for the commissioners and Bent #MCC

Scott is done with his questioning. But Bent asks to clarify his previous testimony: "'relationship' doesn't mean intimate..." Nick Beaton yells "shut up!" and storms out, "I don't need this bullshit" #MCC

I'm going to see if Nick wants to speak...

Nick has left, but I did speak with his mother, Beth, who didn't want to be recorded but was happy to speak. She said she was in the kitchen when Bent and Nick had the conversation about the phone and a possible relationship, but doesn't recall the exact language MORE #MCC

Beth said that Bent put the suggestion in Nick's head. "How could that be, she didn't know him." #MCC

Back to the testimony, Bent is saying that around 5:30 on Sunday, he checked every house... if the house door was open he explored every room in the house #MCC

I'm told I misheard the name of Nick's mother. It's Bev, not Beth. I regret the error.

BREAKING: RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki tried to ‘jeopardize’ mass murder investigation to advance Trudeau’s gun control efforts halifaxexaminer.ca/featured/rcmp-… by @dartjenhen

#MCC lawyer Gillian Hantiw is presenting the newest foundational document, "Public Communications from
the RCMP and Government after the Mass Casualty," on which the above article is based

Hantiw is playing the video of Stephen McNeil interrupting the COVID update on April 19, 2020 to speak about the murders #MCC

"The RCMP will provide you with as much information as possible," said McNeil. Just a few hours later, at a press briefing, the RCMP withheld the full death toll of the murders, even though they then knew the exact count #MCC

Hantiw now showing video of that press conference. 10 minutes into the press conference, and in response to a reporter’s question, Chief Supt. Chris Leather confirmed there were “in excess of 10 victims.” Again, at that time, Leather knew there were 22 victims #MCC

.@dartjenhen called the press conference "surreal," and I agree #MCC

Hantiw: "the number 10... was just a number chosen based on the information they had when they settled on it, but an hour before the press conference Leather was told there was at least 17." (Major Crime knew there were 22) #MCC

Hantiw: Leather also knew the killer had exchanged gunfire with Heidi Stevenson, "and that was not shared at that time" #MCC

Later in the evening, RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki agreed to a number of one-on-one interviews with reporters, contravening the agreed protocol... MORE #MCC

At 7:36pm, CBC News quoted Lucki as stating there were 13 victims; at 7: 40pm, CTV reported Lucki had said 14 victims; and at 7:56pm, the Canadian Press quoted Lucki as having confirmed 17 dead, including the gunman. #MCC

Hantiw: the ever-increasing number of reported dead, contradicting Leather's earlier statement, confused the public and caused distress among people who couldn't find family members #MCC

Lucki will testify before the #MCC later this summer.

Hantiw: at a April 20 press conference, Leather said there were in excess of 19 victims, "and they were all adults." They knew at that time there were 22 victims, and that Emily Tuck was just 17 years old. #MCC

Hantiw: at the April 20 press conference, Leather didn't respond to questions about the killer's guns. He knew, however, that the killer was not licensed for firearms, and that he had taken Stevenson's weapon #MCC

Hantiw: At the April 20 conference, Leather said an alert was issued, but was corrected right then and there by his comms person that it was just a tweet #MCC

Hantiw now playing the April 20 COVID briefing when McNeil was asked about the public alert, and he said EMO was prepared to issue one but wasn't asked #MCC

On April 21, RCMP posted information on its Facebook account that named the communities where the killer had taken lives and confirmed a total of 23 victims. Later in the day that number was adjusted to 22 #MCC

On April 21, the RCMP said the killer did not have a criminal record; that's technically correct, but the RCMP knew that he had received a conditional discharge for an assault, that he threatened to kill his parents, and that a BOLO once went out that he might kill police #MCC

At a subsequent press conference, Leather was asked if "firearms complaint," which was the language used in a late night April 18 RCMP tweet, adequately described what had happened in Portapique. Leather said he was OK with it #MCC

Hantiw: by April 24, the RCMP press conferences were led by Darren Campbell, who gave the first detailed description of the murder spree... MORE #MCC

I remember this press conference. While it was more detailed, there was an error of fact introduced that so far as I know as never been explicitly corrected. Campbell placed another death on Highway 4, besides Lilian Campbell. That info later dropped out, without comment #MCC

At the presser, Campbell said there was only one way in and out of Portapique #MCC

Hantiw moves on to an April 28 press conference, at which Campbell said the investigation extended to the sourcing of weapons in the United States. #MCC

Hantiw: later that day there was an "interesting" virtual meeting with Campbell, Asst. Commander Lee Bergerman, Leather, and Nova Scotia Communications director Lia Scanlan and RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki #MCC

According to Campbell's notes: "[Lucky] said she told Comms to tell us at H Division to include specific info about the firearms used by [the killer]…. MORE #MCC

"... However I said we couldn’t because to do so would jeopardize ongoing efforts to advance the U.S. side of the case as well as the Canadian components of the investigation." MORE #MCC

"...The Commissioner said she had promised the Minister of Public Safety and the Prime Minister’s Office that the RCMP (we) would release this information...that this was tied to pending gun control legislation" #MCC

for whatever my opinion is worth, I'm honestly astonished that Campbell stood up to Lucki #MCC

Hantiw is covering RCMP public relations after that point, which we have covered at length already, so I won't detail it all #MCC

Just a reminder: this reporting takes a great deal of work, time, and money. It is made possible thanks solely to those who subscribe to the Halifax Examiner. If you value this work, please consider subscribing. Thanks! halifaxexaminer.ca/subscription-a…

We're done for today. #MCC proceedings continue on Thursday

Upthread, I’ve misspelled @gillianhnatiw’s name, and I’m terribly sorry for that