A provincial court judge has rejected a man香蕉视频直播檚 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.

香蕉视频直播淚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,香蕉视频直播� Honourable Judge Alexander Wolf wrote in his reasons for judgment published on June 6. 香蕉视频直播淚t appears to me that Mr. Millar香蕉视频直播檚 only regret is that he was caught on film and seen by two witnesses.香蕉视频直播�

During the three-day trial, a witness testified he was visiting Tofino from Vancouver with his spouse and 香蕉视频直播渆njoying watching the bears香蕉视频直播� from his Airbnb when he saw Millar shoot the bears with a longbow and a crossbow.

香蕉视频直播淭he witness said he has 香蕉视频直播渂een around hunting most of his life, studied Medieval Studies, and could tell one of the bows was a 香蕉视频直播渓ong bow,香蕉视频直播櫹憬妒悠抵辈�� Wolf wrote. 香蕉视频直播淗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.香蕉视频直播�

The witness said he was about to yell at Millar, but before he could Millar had taken out a cross bow 香蕉视频直播渢o finish off the bear.香蕉视频直播�

香蕉视频直播淗e told the court the second bear was still in the tree and 香蕉视频直播渏ust looked on香蕉视频直播�. That is when the accused 香蕉视频直播渓oaded the long bow again, and took another shot, and the second bear fell out of the tree,香蕉视频直播� Wolf wrote.

The witness said the bear tried to run away but the accused ran after it and took another shot.香蕉视频直播�

香蕉视频直播淭his is not a case where the two bears were killed accidentally,香蕉视频直播� Wolf wrote. 香蕉视频直播淔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.香蕉视频直播�

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 香蕉视频直播渄idn香蕉视频直播檛 know anything about香蕉视频直播� 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 香蕉视频直播渉ad a haunch of meat on his property and he was worried about his dogs getting hurt.香蕉视频直播�

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 Millar香蕉视频直播檚 recounting of the events contained inconsistencies.

香蕉视频直播淗e seemed to intentionally create the impression that the bear was a 香蕉视频直播榩roblem香蕉视频直播� bear. He used the word a couple of times and eventually said it was 香蕉视频直播榥ot a good bear, just seeing it come at me like that,香蕉视频直播櫹憬妒悠抵辈�� said the CO. 香蕉视频直播淲ith respect to the incident on October 14, 2021, the accused described the experience and used very specific words. 香蕉视频直播淣ear death experience香蕉视频直播� was one phrase he used.香蕉视频直播�

A wildlife veterinarian also testified at trial and confirmed that the mother bear was lactating and had been shot with four arrows.

香蕉视频直播淒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,香蕉视频直播� Wolf wrote.

香蕉视频直播淏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.香蕉视频直播�

Wolf added there was no evidence to suggest either bear was 香蕉视频直播渋n any way acting aggressively or threatening harm to person, place or thing香蕉视频直播� and that he did not believe Millar香蕉视频直播檚 recollection of events.

香蕉视频直播淭o be clear, without any hesitation, and to be as polite as possible, I conclude that his version of events is fabricated,香蕉视频直播� 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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