Calgary police want provincial review into death of woman outside SW elementary school

Calgary police are recommending the death of a woman outside a southwest elementary school Tuesday be reviewed by a provincial committee.

Investigators say the man responsible for the homicide was wanted on warrants for domestic violence charges at the time of the incident.

The Calgary Police Service (CPS) says authorities engaged with the family numerous times, and the suspect was charged on three seperate occasions.

Each time charges were laid, he was released with conditions, including a no-contact order issued by the court, it adds.

However, once criminal charges are laid, CPS says it is up to the justice system to determine if the accused will be held in custody or released on bail.

This is based on the totality and severity of the crimes committed, according to police.

CPS says bail reform is an ongoing conversation and is a concern for law enforcement, and the community, when violent offenders are released after being charged.

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Read more:

• Domestic violence advocates sound alarm after woman killed by estranged partner outside Calgary school
• Calgary police investigate homicide outside SW school, suspect found dead in ‘domestic incident’

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The police service in Calgary has long been a strong advocate for “much-needed” bail reform, it says.

With that, CPS has “strongly” recommended the incident be selected by Alberta’s Family Violence Death Review Committee for evaluation.

“I think in situations like this we owe a further duty to try to dig deeper, notwithstanding the obvious, to try to figure out why,” Calgary Police Chief Mark Neufeld said at an event Thursday. “Later, when this goes, and again, my strongest recommendation would be that this would go to the Family Violence Death Review Committee, to look at the overlaying of those systems and where there was any opportunity for improvement.”

There will also be an internal review, which police say is standard protocol for any domestic violence situation that ends in serious injury or death.

“We review our own internal processes to determine if there was anything else we could have done to influence the outcomes,” CPS said in a statment.

It adds Calgary has “robust” supports and services available to anyone in need, though crimes of this nature are substantially underreported.

Those facing domestic violence can access services at CPS partner afencies including FearIsNotLove, Unison at Kerby Centre, the Awo Taan Healing Lodge Society, Carya, HomeFront, the Calgary Immigrant Women’s Association and YW Calgary.

The case is still under investigation by police.

Victim Assistance Support Teams are available to provide support to those impacted by the tragic incident and can be contacted at 403-428-8398 or toll free at 1-888-327-7828.