WATCH ABOVE: Two years after Greg Matters was shot and killed by RCMP, his family has launched a civil suit. Catherine Urquhart reports.
The mother of former Canadian soldier Greg Matters, who was shot and killed by RCMP, is launching a civil lawsuit against the RCMP, the province and Attorney-General of Canada.
Lorraine Matters also included RCMP Crp. Colin Warwick in the lawsuit, who was at the rural home near Prince George, which she shared with Matters when the police standoff occurred on Sept. 10, 2012.
Matters’ sister Tracey spoke to Global News after filing the suit saying “it was a huge step for us” since they had always intended on following through with civil action.
“It feels really good to have taken this next step forward and hopefully there’s still hope for justice,” she said.
READ MORE: Shooting death not a crime: police watchdog
The 40-year-old Matters was honourably discharged from the military in 2009 after a 15 year career. Suffering from PTSD, Matters had a history of run-ins with police.
On Sept. 12, 2012, Prince George RCMP had gone to Matters home to arrest him on a charge of assaulting his brother. Officers said they had no choice but to shoot Matters because he was brandishing a hatchet and approaching an officer who had fallen and could not defend himself.
The RCMP were cleared of any criminal wrongdoing. A coroner’s inquest last year made nine recommendations, including improved support from the federal government for soldiers and veterans.
Now with the civil suit launched, Tracey said “we can get the entire story out so that people know exactly what happened in the lead up to Greg’s death and on that dreadful day.”
The civil suit seeks compensation for the wrongful death of Matters as well as damages for battery, wrongful arrest, unlawful detention and malicious misconduct for the arrest of Lorraine; which occurred in the hours before her son was shot.
~ with files from Catherine Urquhart
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