A bill will be presented for first reading in the House of Commons Monday afternoon that – if passed – would ensure judges have all the facts before releasing dangerous criminals on bail.
On Jan. 17, 2015, RCMP Const. David Wynn was investigating a stolen vehicle complaint with another constable when he was fatally shot by 34-year-old Shawn Maxwell Rehn at the Apex Casino in St. Albert, Alta.
Rehn left the scene, leading to a nine-hour manhunt. His body was later found at a nearby residence, dead of an apparent suicide.
READ MORE: Thousands pay respects to St. Albert RCMP Const. David Wynn at regimental funeral
Bill S-217 , better known as “Wynn’s Law”, looks to make it mandatory for the Crown to present an accused’s full criminal record, failures to appear in court and outstanding charges during a bail hearing.
The bill passed through the senate Thursday with 40 senators supporting it.
St. Albert MP Michael Cooper will present the bill.
READ MORE: St. Albert MP pushes forward ‘Dave Wynn’s Law’ one year after constable’s murder
Earlier this year, Cooper said he thought Const. Wynn would still be alive if the judge who let Rehn out on bail had known about his nearly 60 convictions and made a different decision. Rehn’s criminal history wasn’t presented at his bail hearing.
The bill was initially pitched last year by then-MP Brent Rathgeber, with support from Wynn’s widow Shelly Wynn-MacInnis.