Accused Park Shooter Cleared

A man accused of being part of a drug related shootout in Polson Park, has been acquitted of all the charges against him.

A BC Supreme Court justice says the Crown failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Robin Rochemont was one of the people firing a handgun at another man in the park in August 2014.

“There was no evidence of Mr. Rochemont’s DNA or fingerprints being present on any of the physical evidence (e.g., casings) retrieved from the park,” writes Justice Nigel Kent. “And the gunshot residue testing of Mr. Rochemont and his clothing undertaken upon his arrest later in the day was “negative.” While none of these things are in and of themselves determinative, the collective absence of such evidence can reasonably serve to raise some doubt about the extent of Mr. Rochemont’s involvement, if any, in the gunfire exchange in Polson Park on the morning of August 12, 2014.”

The shootout took place after an attempted robbery at the Green Valley Motel.

A number of people were in the area, including passing motorists on Highway 97 and 25th Avenue, one of the city’s busiest intersections.

Rochemont had been facing five firearms offences.

Rochemont entered a not guilty plea to all of the charges.  His trial took place in Kelowna from May 29 to June 1, 2017.  The Crown called 16 witnesses, while no evidence was called on behalf of the accused.

The other suspect in the incident, Jacob Lowes, was found guilty of assault causing bodily harm and will be sentenced June 16.

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