A man from the Cowichan Valley has admitted to killing two men many years ago on Vancouver Island.

But the RCMP say the claims have not been substantiated.

During an ongoing drug trafficking trial in Victoria, a man who was paid to assist the police in the case, Matthew Holland, admitted to killing two people on the Island who were unrelated to the case, in separate incidents about 20 years ago.

Holland has a criminal record for numerous offences, including manslaughter, but has never been charged with the deaths of the two people he testified on Oct. 17 that he killed.

Holland was paid more than $130,000 by the RCMP to help nab an alleged cocaine dealer, Douglas Lawrence Ketch, before he testified in the case.

During his testimony, Holland said the first man he was referring to picked him up about 20 years ago when Holland was hitchhiking on the Malahat.

He said he believed the man who picked him up put his life in danger, although the court transcripts donB次元官网网址檛 say why he believed this.

B次元官网网址淚 beat the s*** out of him, man,B次元官网网址� Holland said when questioned about the incident, according to the transcripts.

B次元官网网址淚 stomped on him, dragged him out of his car. I dealt with it like it should have been. You know, my life was in danger.B次元官网网址�

Holland said the second incident occurred around the same time in a bar in Courtney.

He said he attacked a man who was beating up his girlfriend.

B次元官网网址淚 was, you know, just sticking up for her,B次元官网网址� Holland said.

B次元官网网址淚 might have gone a little too far.B次元官网网址�

Cpl. Janelle Shoihet, from the RCMPB次元官网网址檚 E division, said the court case is still ongoing, so police are limited as to what information can be shared at this time.

But she said police are aware that Holland testified to committing severe assaults on two individuals approximately 20 years ago, but do not know whether or not he killed the individuals in question.

B次元官网网址淢r. Holland had already disclosed to police the same allegations he made on Oct. 17,B次元官网网址� Shoihet said.

B次元官网网址淚 can confirm that those allegations were investigated, and that police were unable to find any corroborating evidence. From the perspective of police, Mr. HollandB次元官网网址檚 testimony on Oct. 17 was consistent with what RCMP knew, and had previously investigated.B次元官网网址�