VANCOUVER -- A British Columbia Mountie convicted of lying to a public inquiry has been sentenced to 30 months in prison.
RCMP Const. Kwesi Millington was found guilty of perjury earlier this year after a B.C. Supreme Court judge concluded he colluded with his fellow officers over testimony given before a public inquiry looking into the death of Robert Dziekanski.
Millington was one of four officers who approached Dziekanski at Vancouver's airport in October 2007. Within seconds of the confrontation with the Polish man, officers jolted him with a Taser. He died on the floor of Vancouver's airport.
All four officers were charged with perjury. Millington and former corporal Benjamin (Monty) Robinson were convicted, while constables Bill Bentley and Gerry Rundel were acquitted.
Dziekanski's mother, Zofia Cisowski, said she's pleased Millington is headed to prison.
"It's some justice, finally, after almost eight year," she said outside the court on Monday.
"I'm now shaking, but I start crying because I was waiting eight years about this sentence."
Justice William Ehrcke said the sentence for Millington had to denounce the officer's actions and provide a deterrence.
Perjury is a very serious offence that undermines the administration of justice, Ehrcke told the court.
Millington's lawyer had asked for a one year conditional sentence, while the Crown sought three years behind bars.
Millington's lawyer has indicated there will be an appeal of his client's conviction.
Gordon Comer, spokesman for the Criminal Justice Branch, said Millington will begin his sentence on Monday, but can apply for bail, pending a decision on his appeal.
