The Crown has stayed all charges against the fourth and final Mountie accused in connection with the Surrey Six murder investigation, citing concerns about his health.
On Tuesday, special prosecutor Christopher Considine said former corporal Paul Johnston had provided "credible medical evidence" he's suffering from Hodgkin's Lymphoma.
"Despite recent treatment, his oncologist approximates his chances of recovery at 50%," Considine wrote in statement explaining the decision.
"His doctor opines, and the Crown accepts, that the stress of a criminal trial for Mr. Johnston at this time may adversely affect his prospects for recovery."
The special prosecutor noted the three other officers charged in connection with the Surrey Six probe have already pleaded guilty and received conditional sentences, which Considine argued sent "a strong public message" that police misconduct will not be tolerated.
But Eileen Mohan, whose son Christopher was one of the innocent people killed in the Surrey Six massacre, doesn't see it that way. She believes the three officers were let off with slaps on the wrist.
She did credit one of the Mounties, Derek Brassington, for sending her a personal apology.
"I thought, well here's an officer who totally is trying to rehabilitate his life," Mohan said.
Years after the terrible crime, Mohan said she still struggles with the grief of losing her beloved son.
“Every single day when I get up and I see his smiling face … it’s almost saying that, you know mom, it’s another day and I’m still with you in spirit,” she said. “That’s what keeps me going.”
Johnston was charged with breach of trust and obstruction of justice in connection with the investigation back in 2011.
In 2014, lawyers for the Surrey Six killers levelled a number of bombshell allegations against the investigators in an attempt to get their clients' convictions thrown out. Among the claims was that Johnston had taken a potential witness to a strip club and participated in unspecified sex games.
On Tuesday, Johnston's lawyer Michael Bolton said the former corporal has "always maintained his innocence" in the case, and is relieved at the special prosecutor’s decision to stay the charges.
"He's very relieved to have this matter over with. It's been pending for nine or 10 years," Bolton said.
During prevoius proceedings, the court heard Brassington had sex with the same witness, and that he continued seeing the woman even after she was moved to a safe house. He was also accused of billing the RCMP for overtime hours he spent drinking and having sex.
Brassington pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice and breach of trust in January.
The court also heard former staff sergeant David Attew engaged in kissing and sexual touching with the girlfriend of another witness who was critical to the prosecution's case. He pleaded guilty to failing to maintain law and order under the RCMP Act.
Cpl. Danny Michaud pleaded guilty to the same count for lying to investigators about Brassington's affair.
The Surrey Six gangland slayings shocked communities across the Lower Mainland back in 2007, and the case remains one of the biggest murder investigations in B.C. history.
Half a dozen people were gunned down in a high-rise apartment building, including two innocent bystanders, 22-year-old Christopher Mohan and 55-year-old Ed Schellenberg.
Prosecutors managed to secure convictions against Cody Haevischer and Matthew Johnson seven years after the murders, and both men were handed life sentences on six counts of first-degree murder.
Another first-degree murder charge was stayed against Jamie Bacon, who was said to be leader of the Red Scorpion gang at the time.
With files from CTV Vancouver's Allison Hurst
