Pubdate: Fri, 20 Nov 2009
Source: Edmonton Journal (CN AB)
Copyright: 2009 The Edmonton Journal
Contact: http://www2.canada.com/edmontonjournal/letters.html
Website: http://www.edmontonjournal.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/134
Author: Alexandra Zabjek

ALBERTA MAN GETS LIFE FOR KILLING MOUNTIE

YELLOWKNIFE -- An Alberta man was found guilty Thursday of 
first-degree murder for shooting an RCMP officer four times at close 
range during a foot chase in the Northwest Territories.

Emrah Bulatci will spend at least 25 years in prison for gunning down 
Const. Christopher Worden, 30, in Hay River, N.W.T., in 2007.

Worden's widow, Jodie, was in tears before the jury entered court 
Thursday morning. The constable's family gasped when the verdict was 
announced. Several wept.

Bulatci, formerly of St. Albert, leaned forward in the prisoner's 
box, his chin pressed to his chest. His face was red. He appeared to 
be crying as he left court.  None of his family was in the courtroom.

The slain officer's father said justice had been served.

"The first-degree murder conviction handed down by the jury is the 
correct one," said John Worden, surrounded by his wife, three 
children, Worden's widow, and two family friends.

"The convicted criminal shot our Christopher four times with only one 
intent: to kill. No one who knew Chris was surprised to learn the 
details of his actions in the early morning hours of Oct. 6, 2007.

"He followed his instincts once encountering the convicted criminal 
and knew that this man should have been arrested and off the streets. 
Chris was doing his job. He took action to protect the safety of the 
residents of Hay River."

On the first day of his trial, Bulatci admitted he shot Worden four 
times, hitting the officer first in the leg and pelvis, then in the 
neck and chest.

His defence lawyers argued the shot that hit Worden in the neck, 
ultimately killing him, was fired unintentionally during a struggle. 
They wanted the jury to find their client guilty of manslaughter.

Bulatci testified he was in Hay River dealing crack cocaine in the 
days before Worden's death.

When he encountered Worden outside a drug house, Bulatci said he 
panicked because he did not want the officer to see the illegal 
firearm in his jacket.

A short foot chase ensued. Bulatci said he could hear Worden gaining 
on him, so he grabbed the gun from his jacket, cocked it and fired 
twice, aiming at the constable's legs. He said he wanted to slow the 
officer down.

Bulatci said he tripped, landing face-first on the ground with Worden 
on top of him. "I didn't intend to pull the trigger. It just happened 
during the struggle," he said

Throughout the four-week trial, court also heard from a parade of 
witnesses, many involved in the drug trade with Bulatci. Several said 
Bulatci asked them for help in the days following the shooting as he 
tried to change his appearance and hide from police, who had launched 
a nationwide manhunt.

Several drug dealers said Bulatci told them he had "shot a cop." 
Bulatci testified he could not tell his drug cohorts the truth about 
the shooting because he couldn't show them weakness or vulnerability.

Northwest Territories Chief Supt. Tom Middleton, commanding officer 
of RCMP G Division, told a news conference the verdict could provide 
closure for some RCMP officers.

"The verdict of guilty to first-degree murder allows us some solace 
as to justice being served for the crime.  It does not, however, 
lessen the pain of the loss."

Worden is among 11 RCMP officers to have died violently in the line 
of duty since 2000.

In the afternoon, Worden's family read victim-impact statements in 
court. They spoke of the pain their family has suffered in the two 
years since Worden's death.

"There's not one day and often not one waking hour that I do not 
think about and miss my brother," Peter Worden said.

Worden's sister and mother said they would never forgive Bulatci.
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