Alexander Beers leaves a Moncton court on June 2. (CBC)New Brunswick RCMP are reviewing the actions of a police officer who is accused of intimidating a young man into taking a breathalyzer after a 14-year-old girl was killed in July 2007.
Alexander Beers, 20, was found not guilty of impaired driving causing death on Thursday after the Crown prosecutor was unable to introduce any new evidence or witnesses to support the case.
Judge George Rideout ruled in May that the breathalyzer test Beers took after the accident was not admissible. The man's lawyer argued he was bullied by an officer into taking the test.
Codiac RCMP Supt. Wayne Gallant said the entire case is being reviewed but he would not say whether the officer involved that night would face any disciplinary action.
"It's still too early to say [whether disciplinary action will be taken] … we'll do a complete review of the case. Our criminal operations section in Fredericton will be involved in that," Gallant said.
Crown considers appeal
Beers was charged in connection with the death of 14-year-old Satara Steeves, who was killed as she walked along the Ryan Road in July 2007.
Jeff Mocker, the Crown prosecutor in the case, said the judge's decision to toss out the breathalyzer test left him without a case.
"I'm not sure that there were any other options available," he said. "We've got 30 days to consider an appeal, and if we decide not to appeal, then I would think that's the end of the road."
Members of the Steeves family left the Moncton courtroom on Thursday angry over the decision.
Annette Steeves, Satara's mother, said the ruling means there will be no closure for the family.
"No, absolutely none, absolutely none. It's unbelievable the way we've been treated," Steeves said.
"It's crazy It's sad. It's a sad system that we have."
