Curtis Dagenais, convicted of murdering two Saskatchewan RCMP officers and injuring another two decades ago, is facing a court battle in Saskatoon concerning the fate of his 1986 blue GMC 1500 truck. The vehicle, currently stored at the RCMP headquarters in Regina, is the subject of a forfeiture application by the Crown seeking its destruction, a move opposed by Dagenais.
The tragic incident occurred on July 6, 2006, when Dagenais, evading arrest in Spiritwood, led RCMP constables Marc Bourdages and Robin Cameron on a pursuit that ended with him fatally shooting both officers. A third constable, Michelle Knopp, was injured in the skirmish that ensued.
Convicted in 2009 on multiple charges, including two counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder, Dagenais appealed the verdict in 2012 without success. The recent court proceedings concerning the truck’s forfeiture application have raised questions about the delay in addressing the matter, with the Crown prosecutor, Scott Bartlett, attributing it to oversight.
In a bid to preserve the truck as potential evidence supporting his innocence, Dagenais sought assistance from Innocence Canada, an organization dedicated to advocating for wrongfully convicted individuals. The court proceedings have been adjourned to allow Dagenais time to secure legal representation in opposition to the forfeiture application.
The recent hearing held in June 2022, where Dagenais appeared via video conference, saw him reiterating his stance against the destruction of the truck. Despite his plea for preservation, the Crown remains steadfast in pursuing the forfeiture. The court has granted Dagenais another adjournment to seek legal counsel before the scheduled forfeiture hearing on August 31.
