Mountie disciplined for returning gun used in murder-suicide
Last Updated: Friday, December 7, 2007 | 10:41 AM NT
CBC News
The RCMP says it has disciplined an officer who returned a shotgun to a southern Newfoundland man who later killed his wife and then himself.
Shawn Skinner, 38, a Hermitage resident, shot his wife Goldie Loveless to death in August 2006, before killing himself.
Skinner, who was convicted four years ago of assaulting Loveless, had been prohibited from being able to own a gun for two years.
The RCMP told CBC News that an unidentified officer was disciplined for returning a shotgun to Skinner, but has released no other details on its internal investigation.
Skinner gave the shotgun to a relative, but later retrieved it. He used it to kill himself.
Skinner was also able to obtain a rifle from a friend. Skinner used the rifle to kill Loveless, 34.
The RCMP said the friend had no criminal intent in lending the rifle to Skinner, and therefore will not be charged.
Lavina Loveless, a sister-in-law to Goldie Loveless, said the family waited for more than a year for the results of the RCMP investigation, and is disheartened to learn no charges will be laid.
"I just wish they'd start at the very beginning and do it all over again," she said.
"We've been hoping that some justice would be brought for Goldie, but there doesn't seem to be any."
Loveless said the family is considering civil suits against the RCMP and the two people who gave the weapons to Skinner.
Skinner and Goldie Loveless had three children.
