A provincial court judge has rejected a manB次元官网网址檚 self defence claim in the shooting of two bears in Tofino.
Ryan Owen Millar was convicted of the unlawful killing of a mother bear and young cub on Oct. 14, 2021.
B次元官网网址淚t was not a fair hunt. It was not an ethical hunt. For our purposes in this trial, I conclude and find as a matter of fact, it was not a legal hunt,B次元官网网址� Honourable Judge Alexander Wolf wrote in his reasons for judgment published on June 6. B次元官网网址淚t appears to me that Mr. MillarB次元官网网址檚 only regret is that he was caught on film and seen by two witnesses.B次元官网网址�
During the three-day trial, a witness testified he was visiting Tofino from Vancouver with his spouse and B次元官网网址渆njoying watching the bearsB次元官网网址� from his Airbnb when he saw Millar shoot the bears with a longbow and a crossbow.
B次元官网网址淭he witness said he has B次元官网网址渂een around hunting most of his life, studied Medieval Studies, and could tell one of the bows was a B次元官网网址渓ong bow,B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� Wolf wrote. B次元官网网址淗e then told the court that the accused put an arrow in it and aimed at the bears. He testified that both bears were in a tree. He took a shot and hit one bear, and that bear fell out of a tree.B次元官网网址�
The witness said he was about to yell at Millar, but before he could Millar had taken out a cross bow B次元官网网址渢o finish off the bear.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淗e told the court the second bear was still in the tree and B次元官网网址渏ust looked onB次元官网网址�. That is when the accused B次元官网网址渓oaded the long bow again, and took another shot, and the second bear fell out of the tree,B次元官网网址� Wolf wrote.
The witness said the bear tried to run away but the accused ran after it and took another shot.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淭his is not a case where the two bears were killed accidentally,B次元官网网址� Wolf wrote. B次元官网网址淔or example, they were not hit by a car, without any intent to harm or hurt the bear. There is clear evidence that supports an intentional application of force. There is evidence that clearly supports that there was an intention to maim, wound or kill the bears.B次元官网网址�
He added that the witness testified that Millar had made no efforts to scare the bears away before shooting them. The witness also recorded video evidence before calling the RCMP.
An RCMP officer who was the first on scene testified that Millar initially said he B次元官网网址渄idnB次元官网网址檛 know anything aboutB次元官网网址� any bears being shot, adding later that he had seen a bear and had scared it away.
Further questioning led to the accused telling the officer that he B次元官网网址渉ad a haunch of meat on his property and he was worried about his dogs getting hurt.B次元官网网址�
Millar further clarified that he had tried to scare the bear off but that it did not react, so he shot it with his bow.
A Conservation Officer also responded to the scene and testified at trial that MillarB次元官网网址檚 recounting of the events contained inconsistencies.
B次元官网网址淗e seemed to intentionally create the impression that the bear was a B次元官网网址榩roblemB次元官网网址� bear. He used the word a couple of times and eventually said it was B次元官网网址榥ot a good bear, just seeing it come at me like that,B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� said the CO. B次元官网网址淲ith respect to the incident on October 14, 2021, the accused described the experience and used very specific words. B次元官网网址淣ear death experienceB次元官网网址� was one phrase he used.B次元官网网址�
A wildlife veterinarian also testified at trial and confirmed that the mother bear was lactating and had been shot with four arrows.
B次元官网网址淒r. Thacker described in detail the angles that the arrows entered the bear. At least one of the entry wounds was consistent with being shot while the bear was elevated, such as in a tree,B次元官网网址� Wolf wrote.
B次元官网网址淏ased on her expertise she said there was likely a much smaller bear cub, weighing no more than 50 pounds, under the age of 12 months with the sow.B次元官网网址�
Wolf added there was no evidence to suggest either bear was B次元官网网址渋n any way acting aggressively or threatening harm to person, place or thingB次元官网网址� and that he did not believe MillarB次元官网网址檚 recollection of events.
B次元官网网址淭o be clear, without any hesitation, and to be as polite as possible, I conclude that his version of events is fabricated,B次元官网网址� Wolf wrote.
Wolf found Millar guilty of illegally killing the two bears and sentencing will take place in September.
andrew.bailey@westerlynews.ca
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