Monty Robinson to appeal conviction in Robert Dziekanski perjury case
Former RCMP officer was sentenced to two years jail, intends to appeal conviction
Monty Robinson, one of four RCMP officers involved in the death of Robert Dziekanski, has been granted bail and says he will appeal his recent perjury conviction.
This morning Robinson was sentenced to two years less a day in jail, one year probation, and 240 hours of community service after being convicted of perjury in March.
Dziekanski, a Polish immigrant, died after he was stunned several times with a Taser at Vancouver International Airport in 2007.
B.C. Supreme Court Judge Nathan Smith told the court Friday that it was Robinson's job to tell the truth as a police officer.
"It strikes at the heart of the justice system," he said.
The judge discussed similar past cases when he reviewed the sentencing, including that of Const. Kwesi Millington, another officer involved in the Dziekanski incident.
Millington was recently sentenced to 30 months in jail for perjury.
But the judge said Robinson's case was more serious because of his higher rank at the time of Dziekanski's death.
The judge also acknowledged Robinson's aboriginal heritage. He said aboriginal offenders should be given consideration for the possible economic and social factors they have faced.
As part of his sentencing, the judge expected Robinson's 240 hours of community service to be applied towards helping other First Nation people dealing with substance abuse.
'Nothing will bring my son back'
Dziekanski's mother, Zofia Cisowski, was also in court this morning.
She said although she was happy with the sentence, nothing could make up for her loss.
"Nothing will bring my son back," said Cisowski.
Cisowski, a resident of Kamloops, B.C., said she's planning on returning to Poland next week.
Prior to her son's death, she had worked two jobs for seven years to save enough money for him, her only child, to join her in Canada.
Convicted in March
Robinson was convicted of perjury in March over testimony he gave at the inquiry into Dziekanski's death.
Crown lawyers were asking for Robinson to be sentenced to three years in prison, but his lawyer sought a conditional sentence saying his client was affected by alcohol and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Two of the other officers involved in the fatal incident eight years ago have been acquitted of perjury.
With files from Tina Lovgreen and Kiran Dhillon