Standoff at MLCN proceeds to trial

All of the Crown’s witnesses this week are RCMP officers.

Const. Eric Wu, who was among the first to respond to the home to assist with the arrests, testified that after repeated attempts to knock on the front door, he heard some shouting. Soon after, he observed the female suspect being escorted from the back of the house and placed into the back of his police car.

After checking on the woman, Wu then returned to the front of the house and recalled hearing what he believed to be a gunshot.

“It was very distinct, very loud,” he told Crown prosecutor Doug Howell.

Wu explained he quickly sought cover behind his car. It was during this time he saw the front curtains open and Henderson taking a short peek out, before closing the curtains again.

Not long after, Wu drove the female suspect away from the scene and to cells at the Waskesiu RCMP detachment.

Henderson was arrested around seven hours later and brought to Prince Albert’s Victoria Hospital to receive treatment for some cuts to his head and face.

Wu, who had been asked to look after Henderson, initially testified he did not know how Henderson was injured, but later told defence he heard the injuries occurred when Henderson got into a fight with emergency responders.

Upon getting cleared by hospital staff, Henderson was then transported to the Waskesiu RCMP detachment.

When it came time for cross-examination, defence lawyer Patrick McDougall noted the fact Wu had testified a statement was taken from the complainant two weeks after the incident, when it actuality it occurred nearly three months later after the complainant was picked up by police for public intoxication.

“What else is there you haven’t mentioned correctly?” McDougall inquired.

McDougall also asked about the decision to remove Henderson from hospital in a wheelchair and whether anything had been said about a possible concussion.

“He was cleared by the doctor,” Wu replied.

When re-examined by the Crown, Wu read from the notes he took at the hospital and said Henderson had not complained of any nausea or dizziness, and was given both a tetanus shot and Advil.

Const. Matteo DiDonato was the officer who arrested the woman and testified she jumped out of a back window and attempted to run. She only made it about 10 or 15 feet before getting caught.

DiDonato, who was positioned behind the house, explained after placing the woman in the car, he was on his way back to his prior position, when he too heard the sound that sounded like a gunshot.

At the point he grabbed a carbine rifle from the nearest police vehicle and then along, with the other officers, regrouped and re-positioned. It was around this same time, dispatch was notified of the situation, and they in turn called in emergency response teams (ERT) from Prince Albert and Regina.

When the first ERT arrived roughly arrived roughly two hours later, they took control of the scene and DiDonato moved to a position outside the perimeter and assumed control of traffic. The second team from Regina arrived around 6 p.m. and roughly three hours later, Henderson was arrested.

Due to the head injury during his altercation with officers, Henderson was first treated at the scene by RCMP members with advanced medical training. A decision was however made that he should be transported by ambulance to Prince Albert’s Victoria Hospital. DiDonato rode with him and confirmed he shared a conversation with the accused.

“He asked me if I was mad at him,” he said, adding he responded he was not, just not impressed with the events of the day.

Henderson allegedly nodded and said nothing further.

Four days have been set aside for this week’s trial and the Crown has four more witnesses to call.

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nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @nigelmaxwell

by Nigel Maxwell

Standoff at MLCN proceeds to trial

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