Im breaking down

[Drache]

I need to post something so I don't break down and don't really have anyone to talk to right now so I need to post it here. I just found out one of my cousins was shot and killed this morning in Burns Lake, BC. A man by the name of Albert Giesbrecht thought my cousin Ray Bishop was sleeping with his wife and went up and shot him. My cousin passed away on route to Prince George Hospital.

I'm sorry for posting this. But I'm just breaking down and don't know what to do.

[Lennard]

I'm sorry for your loss! Life is crazy,  try to stay cool.

[Dans 68]

My prayers are with you on your loss. And by all means post if it helps. Lots of shoulders on here.

Dan

[Mike DC]

   
   
Sorry man.  I've lost some family members tragically and it's just the biggest gut-punch imaginable.  Some of the hardest shit you can ever go through.

     

[Drache]

The coward shot my cousin three times in the back while he was in a public washroom

[XH29N0G]

Drache, 

This is horrible!  and a horrible thing to go through.  My thoughts are with you and your family.

[TruckDriver]

I'm sorry for your loss! It is better to post it here, then it is to not talk about it.

[69rtse4spd]

Sorry for your loss, by all means , post away anytime, take the f***er on a long ride way up north. Polar bears need to eat to.

[Drache]

Ok so the first accounts I got of the shooting were wrong. Albert was waiting on the side of the road and flagged my cousin down. My cousin was a good guy and would have stopped not expecting any trouble. Eye witnesses stated that my cousin got out of his truck and Albert started yelling and grabbed a gun out of his truck. My cousin turned to run and was shot in the back three times. The shooting happened around 6:30am. His body was still lying there (covered by a tarp) at 12:30.

One person has been found deceased and RCMP were holding one person of interest in custody Thursday morning.

Lakes District News has unconfirmed reports that a shooting has taken place on the Southside.

Police said in a press release that they received multiple calls from the community in relation to the incident.

"North District Major Crime, and Forensic Experts have been called to the community to assist the Burns Lake RCMP with this investigation. Police are working hard to gather all the evidence. A person of interest has been identified and is presently in police custody. The police believe that there is no risk to the community. More information is expected to be released as it becomes available," said the RCMP release.

The Francois Lake ferry re-opened and is in shuttle mode until the traffic backlog caused by its temporary closure Thursday morning is cleared up.

School District 91 was advised by the RCMP to initiate a "hold and secure" procedure at both Francois Lake and Grassy Plains schools. Morning bus runs were cancelled and students on busses were returned home.

Just after 9 a.m., the RCMP advised that the hold and secure could be lifted as there was no threat to public safety. However, all bus routes to these schools have been cancelled.

Both schools are open and parents are welcome to bring their kids to school, but there will be no busses running today.

http://www.interior-news.com/news/shooting-south-of-burns-lake/

[funknut]

How awful and tragic.

So sorry for your loss.

[dyslexic teddybear]

My prayers are with you on your loss. And by all means post if it helps. Lots of shoulders on here.

Dan

Prayers

And lots of shoulders here.

Know we are all trying to think of something to write to help......

[Drache]

Albert Giesbrecht, 66, has been charged with first-degree murder in connection with the death of Raymond George Bishop, 59.

The Burns Lake RCMP found Bishop deceased on the Southside on May 18, 2017 after receiving multiple calls from local residents at around 6:30 a.m. North District Major Crime and forensic experts were called to the community to assist the Burns Lake RCMP with this investigation.

School District No. 91 (Nechako Lakes) was advised by the RCMP to initiate a 'hold and secure' procedure at both Francois Lake Elementary and Grassy Plains schools early that morning. Bus runs were cancelled and students that were already on busses were returned home.

Just after 9 a.m., the RCMP advised the school district that the 'hold and secure' could be lifted as there was no threat to public safety. Parents were encouraged to take their kids to school since there were no busses running that morning.

The Francois Lake ferry was temporarily shut down while police were at the scene of the homicide. The ferry service reopened later that morning.

Giesbrecht is scheduled to make a court appearance on Tuesday, May 23, 2017 in the Burns Lake Provincial Court.

http://www.burnslakelakesdistrictnews.com/news/422990643.html

[BDF]

What a horrible thing to have happened and to go through!
How are YOU doing now?

[Drache]

What a horrible thing to have happened and to go through!
How are YOU doing now?

Accepted it. Every now and then though it still hits me in the guts like being kicked by a horse.

It won't be over for me until Albert is sentenced.

Canada though has very shitty laws. A "life" sentence in Canada is only 25 years (parole in 10) except for murder in the first which is no chance of parole.

[BDF]

I'm glad he is in custody. Be patient with the process & yourself.

[Drache]

This picture was submitted to the local News Paper showing my cousin's truck. My cousin is under the white sheet at the back of the pickup....

They ran this picture on the front page.... 

[69wannabe]

Goodness dude, wish I had the words to make things better but something like this is so sudden and awful that there are no words......

[Drache]

So I've been gone for awhile dealing with family matters and court appearances....

An update to this is the man who murdered my cousin was released on bail, in the town where he murdered my cousin. He not only stalked my cousin before shooting him, he also had threatened more than a few people before that and when he was arrested, had a list of people he planned to kill after my cousin.

We are dumb founded how a many like this could be given bail.

In Canada, when you are charged with First Degree Murder, it is up to you to prove why he should be given bail (Instead of the prosecutor to prove why they shouldn't). Also in Canada, a defendant doesn't have to pay for their bail. Here, they only have to prove they have enough money to pay the fine if they don't show up for their court hearing.

The amazing thing was his first lawyer dumped this asshole saying the case was impossible.

I've been in a hotel for over a week. How is this Justice?

[Fred]

What a horrible senseless thing to have happened. In the end nobody wins but everybody loses........it is all so pointless.
So sorry for what you're going through.

The definition of justice..............."laughable"!

[JB400]

He'll get his due reward, regardless of what others say.

[Lighthorseman]

...in Canada, a defendant doesn't have to pay for their bail. Here, they only have to prove they have enough money to pay the fine if they don't show up for their court hearing...

Here in Alberta, bail must be posted by the person charged before they can be released.  That money is returned to them once they appear in court as required.  This *might* be different in B.C., and while I may doubt it, I cannot say for sure.

Hang in there!

[Kern Dog]

That sounds like it is in the USA. The accused either puts up cash or goes through a Bail Bond company.

[Drache]

So some members of my family have been contacted by Albert's defense lawyer, Terry Delalibertes, and threatened them with legal action if they don't stop talking about Albert on facebook. Nothing threatening, just stating the facts of the case to people and the lawyer doesn't like that one bit.

[charger_fan_4ever]

So some members of my family have been contacted by Albert's defense lawyer, Terry Delalibertes, and threatened them with legal action if they don't stop talking about Albert on facebook. Nothing threatening, just stating the facts of the case to people and the lawyer doesn't like that one bit.

So much for freedom of speech.

[Drache]

Residents of a northern B.C. town are afraid and outraged that an accused killer has been granted bail and allowed to return to his community to await trial.

"The community is in fear," said Steven Bishop, the younger brother of Raymond Bishop, who was found shot to death on the south side of Francois Lake in Southbank on May 18. "Everyone feels demoralized. We wonder if this is the system we support. We're voters, but we feel silent and neglected."

Albert Giesbrecht, 66, is charged with the first-degree murder of 59-year-old Bishop. Last week, a judge in B.C. provincial court in Smithers granted bail for Giesbrecht. He was released from custody on Thursday morning and arrived at his home in Burns Lake, which is a ferry ride and about 24 kilometres from Southbank, later that day.

Giesbrecht is subject to 22 conditions. They include house arrest, not using the internet or a cellphone, not possessing firearms, weapons, drugs and alcohol, and not being in a vehicle without court-appointed escorts. His bail was set at $75,000 and two people acted as sureties.

Steven Bishop doesn't believe the conditions are enough.

"He's not free, but he's in the community," he said. "The only thing between him and us is a piece of paper. There's no protection from a piece of paper."

Nechako Lakes MLA John Rustad raised the issue during question period in the B.C. legislature on Thursday, saying Giesbrecht's release is concerning for the victim's family and everyone in the Burns Lake area.

"How this judge can make a decision like this is beyond me," he said. "However, my constituents are rightfully anxious that this individual will be permitted back into the community."

Jennifer Petersen, whose aunt was married to Giesbrecht, called for justice for Bishop in a Facebook post this week. She called the shooting "unthinkable, unfathomable, horrific" and described Bishop as an amazing man.

"I am terrified what bail will bring to our community," Petersen wrote.

On Thursday, about 40 people protested the bail decision at the intersection of Petersen Road and Highway 16 in Burns Lake. Bishop's brother and daughter attended. It was a solemn affair, and Steve Bishop said many people told him that they were afraid to show up.

Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth said on Friday that his office is taking Giesbrecht's release very seriously.

"I have made it clear that it is my expectation is that if there is any violation for whatever reason of any of these conditions, then he is picked up and put in a cell and not released," he said.

Farnworth said that this kind of pretrial release for murder suspects is rare.

"That's why we were very surprised, and that's also why Crown is looking at how to appeal the release, as well as the bail conditions," he said.

According to figures from the ministry of attorney general, during the 2016-2017 fiscal year, 40 people were charged with first- or second-degree murder in B.C. Five of them were released on bail.

Another case in which a murder suspect was granted bail is that of Dustin Blue Robert Moir, who was charged with first-degree murder in the 2005 death of 14-year-old Chelsy Acorn.

Moir was on bail, with his mother acting as surety, while he awaited both his first and second trials.

In the first instance, he was released on $200,000 bail. He was taken into custody after his conviction and was in prison for more than three years. Moir appealed and was once again released on a $200,000 bail to await his second trial. He was jailed less than a year later after being accused of breaching his conditions.

Moir was convicted of first-degree murder in March 2017.

Steven Bishop would like to see the laws changed, so those charged with murder cannot receive bail. He said Giesbrecht will be able to spend Christmas with his family, but his brother won't see his family again.

He described Bishop as a gentle, helpful person who loved the outdoors and fast cars. Bishop leaves behind his mother, brother, two children and a grandchild.

"He was a wonderful guy, he had a loving family. They're devastated by this, as we all are," said Steven Bishop, adding that his 78-year-old mom is particularly affected. "She's taking this very hard and she's had health issues from it. She sounds demoralized. Everyone's mad and sad and outraged."

http://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/family-northern-b-c-community-fear-release-of-accused-killer