After two decades, Curtis Dagenais, the convicted murderer of two RCMP officers in Saskatchewan, is facing a court battle in Saskatoon over the fate of his truck. The 1986 blue GMC 1500, involved in the tragic incident in 2006, is currently stored at the RCMP headquarters in Regina. The Crown is seeking its forfeiture for destruction, a move opposed by Dagenais.
Dagenais was behind the wheel on July 6, 2006, when he evaded arrest by RCMP constables in Spiritwood, leading to a fatal confrontation. He fatally shot Constables Marc Bourdages and Robin Cameron before injuring Constable Michelle Knopp. In 2009, Dagenais was convicted of two counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder, receiving three life sentences with no chance of parole for 25 years.
The issue of the truck’s forfeiture resurfaced in court recently, with Crown prosecutor Scott Bartlett admitting oversight in not pursuing it earlier. Dagenais, maintaining his innocence, believes the bullet holes in the truck could prove crucial for his case. Despite seeking assistance from Innocence Canada, his appeal for the truck’s preservation continues.
In the most recent hearing before Justice Daryl Labach, Dagenais, representing himself, expressed opposition to the truck’s destruction. With Innocence Canada declining to represent him, Dagenais requested a further adjournment to secure legal representation. The hearing is set for August 31, offering Dagenais one last chance to contest the forfeiture.