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Lawyer defends client’s suit

Ryan Watson 0075
Ryan Watson leaves Okotoks Provincial Court on Feb. 28.

The lawyer for the man suing Edouard Maurice said his client was advised to take legal action by RCMP.

“My client (Ryan Randy Watson) advised me that the RCMP told him he had a civil suit,” said Stephen Nelson.

A prepared statement from RCMP said that is unlikely.

“While we can’t say for certain, it is possible that in the heat of the moment, and in response, an officer could have retorted that the subject could pursue civil actions if they felt that justice was not being served,” the statement said.

“RCMP officers would never give official legal advice on the justice system.”

Nelson said the suit filed against Maurice has merit.

“My evaluation of the law is that excessive force was used (by Maurice),” Nelson said. “Based upon my client’s version of events.”

He said there is precedence.

“One of the major cases back to 1973 involved someone who is stealing got shot at,” said Nelson. “The person who was involved in the crime ended up winning.”

He said many of those cases had involved in the shootings.

No date has been set for the suit.




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