National

Murder Charge Dropped Against Newfoundland Man Accused Of Killing Home Invader

Darpan News Desk, 13 Oct, 2017 07:08 PM

BOTWOOD, N.L. — A murder charge was dropped Thursday against a Newfoundland man accused of killing a home invader last year.

Gilbert Budgell was charged with second-degree murder in the shooting of one of two masked men who entered his Botwood house in central Newfoundland in April 2016.

The man later died in hospital.

Crown prosecutor Karen O'Reilly says the case — which included a second charge of unlawful possession of a firearm — couldn't go ahead without satisfactory belief it could be proved beyond a reasonable doubt.

"When it gets to the judge's stage, he has to be satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt that it happened, so he needs almost near certainty," O'Reilly told reporters Thursday in Grand Falls-Windsor, N.L.

Defence lawyer Bob Buckingham said the home invaders arrived wearing masks, and Budgell acted out of fear.

"He wished things had turned out much more differently," Buckingham told reporters outside court. "He's absolutely and totally, completely upset and distraught as to what happened to this person."

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

Five-Term BC MP Nathan Cullen Endorses Jagmeet Singh For Federal NDP Leadership

Veteran New Democrat MP Nathan Cullen has opted to back Ontario legislator Jagmeet Singh to replace Tom Mulcair as party leader, saying he is not concerned that Singh does not hold a seat in the House of Commons.

Five-Term BC MP Nathan Cullen Endorses Jagmeet Singh For Federal NDP Leadership

B.C. Premier Breaks Campaign Finance Reform Promise, Say Opposition Liberals

VICTORIA — British Columbia's Opposition Liberals say the New Democrat government's legislation to get big money out of politics comes with a huge broken promise from Premier John Horgan.

B.C. Premier Breaks Campaign Finance Reform Promise, Say Opposition Liberals

IHIT Says Richmond Murder Victim Was 'Known To Police'

Homicide detectives have identified the man shot to death early Monday morning in an apparently targeted attack in Richmond, B.C.

IHIT Says Richmond Murder Victim Was 'Known To Police'

Allowances Will Fill Fundraising Gap For Political Parties In B.C.

VICTORIA — British Columbia's plan to get big money out of politics and shake off its reputation as the Wild West of election campaign financing comes with a potential cost to taxpayers of almost $30 million over the next five years.

Allowances Will Fill Fundraising Gap For Political Parties In B.C.

Proposed Ban On Balloons Voted Down By Vancouver Park Board

VANCOUVER — A proposed ban on balloons at any beach, park or community centre has been rejected by the Vancouver Park Board.

Proposed Ban On Balloons Voted Down By Vancouver Park Board

Seven Potential Candidates Eyeing B.C. Liberal Leadership Bid: Rich Coleman

KAMLOOPS, B.C. — The interim leader of the B.C. Liberal Party says while no one has officially declared they will seek the party's top job, several high profile candidates appear interested.