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A man testified Wednesday that he saw his wife body-slammed and repeatedly punched by a Mountie during an arrest outside the couple’s western New Brunswick home.
Barry Scott testified in a Woodstock courtroom during the trial of RCMP Cpl. Andrew Whiteway, who’s charged with aggravated assault against Christina Gillis.
The charge stems from an incident outside Gillis’s home in Richmond Corner, near Woodstock, on June 13, 2024.
Scott, a Woodstock police officer, testified he was off-duty and at home when Gillis called 911 for assistance with someone who was experiencing a mental health crisis.
CBC News is not naming the person who was in distress in order to protect their identity.
After attempts to calm down the person in distress, the person left the house and shortly after, RCMP officers caught up to him in a nearby field.
Scott said two RCMP officers were walking back to the house with the person who’d been having a mental health crisis, when Gillis approached them on foot, yelling and screaming.
He said Whiteway walked up to the group and suddenly forced Gillis to the ground using a method known as a straight-arm-bar takedown.
“It took me by surprise,” Scott said. “I thought he was gonna direct her away.”
Whiteway landed on top of Gillis, who’d gone down face-first. Whiteway then shuffled onto his knees, and began punching Gillis in the head area, throwing a total of six punches, Scott said.
“I’m thinking what the f–k is he doing?”
Scott said he rushed over to Gillis and saw that her face was covered in blood, with her hands nestled under her chest.
He said he told her to stop resisting, and eventually she was handcuffed and taken away.
Shortly after, Scott said, he walked off into a field and “just collapsed” because of the emotional strain of the event he’d witnessed.
He said police dealt with Gillis and the person who had been in distress, and a few minutes later an ambulance showed up to take Gillis to hospital.
Wife returned home with black eyes
Later that evening, Scott said, Gillis returned home.
“When she walked in the door … her eyes were black. One was worse than the other. One was bruised up. One of her two front teeth, one was [pushed] back.”
The Serious Incident Response Team, which is responsible for investigating police-related violence, death and sexual assault in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, investigated the incident and announced the charge against Whiteway in September 2024.
According to RCMP at the time, Whiteway was temporarily reassigned to administrative duties in accordance with the RCMP Act.
His trial is taking place before a judge alone.
Defence questions husband’s account
Later Wednesday, TJ Burke, the lawyer for Whiteway, cross-examined Scott, questioning his version of events and pointing out discrepancies in what he’s said about the incident that day.
“My understanding of the situation is that Christina is getting to the point where she’s getting very close to officers,” Burke said, referring to the moments before Whiteway arrested her.
Lawyer TJ Burke questioned the account of events given by Barry Scott, husband of Christina Gillis, when he testified at at RCMP Cpl. Andrew Whiteway’s aggravated assault trial. (Aidan Cox/CBC)
“Did you see your wife strike Cpl. Whiteway’s hand down?” Burke asked.
“He came from the other side and grabbed her,” Scott said, denying he saw his wife strike Whiteway’s hand.
Burke then grilled Scott on a statement he gave an investigator, in which he said he was momentarily distracted by his cellphone during the altercation.
“You understand what perjury is as a police officer? You observed everything?” Burke asked.
Scott said he did pick up his phone, but he “didn’t have to look away.”
Burke also highlighted that Scott told an investigator that he agreed his wife was obstructing police.
“You also told SIRT investigator [Patrick] Tardiff that Christina could have been capable or punching officers,” Burke said.
The trial was adjourned Wednesday, and is expected to resume Thursday morning, with testimony from RCMP Staff Sgt. Dan Sharpe, who is Whiteway’s supervisor, as well as two use-of-force experts.