News Release
Criminal Charges not Warranted in Relation to Death of Man in Brantford Inn
Case Number: 19-OCD-259
Other News Releases Related to Case 19-OCD-259
On November 3, 2019, the Hamilton Police Service Emergency Response Unit was called out to an inn in the City of Brantford in regard to a 33-year-old man who was believed to be inside the inn, and who was wanted in relation to a double homicide investigation. After evacuating the guests, attempts were made to contact the man but there was no response from within the man’s room. Shortly after, a single gunshot was heard coming from within the room. Upon entering the room, police officers discovered the man to be vital signs absent on the bed with a gunshot wound and a handgun under his left hand. The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has determined that there are no reasonable grounds for proceeding with criminal charges in connection with the man’s death.
Full Director’s Report (with Incident Narrative, Evidence, and Analysis & Director’s Decision):https://www.siu.on.ca/en/directors_reports.php.
The SIU is an independent government agency that investigates the conduct of officials (police officers as well as special constables with the Niagara Parks Commission and peace officers with the Legislative Protective Service) that may have resulted in death, serious injury, sexual assault and/or the discharge of a firearm at a person. All investigations are conducted by SIU investigators who are civilians. Under the Special Investigations Unit Act, the Director of the SIU must
- consider whether the official has committed a criminal offence in connection with the incident under investigation
- depending on the evidence, cause a criminal charge to be laid against the official where grounds exist for doing so, or close the file without any charges being laid
- publicly report the results of its investigations