Curtis Dagenais, who was responsible for the murder of two Saskatchewan RCMP officers and the injury of a third two decades ago, is set to return to court in Saskatoon this month. The legal proceedings revolve around his 1986 blue GMC 1500 truck, currently stored at RCMP headquarters in Regina. The Crown is seeking its forfeiture and destruction, while Dagenais opposes this action.
In July 2006, Dagenais was involved in a confrontation with three RCMP constables in Spiritwood, leading to a chase that ended tragically. Two constables, Marc Bourdages and Robin Cameron, lost their lives after Dagenais shot them, while Const. Michelle Knopp was also injured in the incident.
Dagenais was convicted in 2009 of two counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder, receiving three life sentences. Despite his appeals, the convictions were upheld by the Saskatchewan Court of Appeal in 2012.
The matter of the truck’s forfeiture has resurfaced in court recently after being overlooked previously. The Crown prosecutor, Scott Bartlett, explained that the application was not made earlier due to oversight. Dagenais, who maintains his innocence, wants to preserve the truck as he believes the bullet holes could support his claims. The court has granted him an extension to explore his options with Innocence Canada.
A new hearing was held in June 2022, with Dagenais expressing his opposition to the truck’s destruction. Labach, the presiding judge, allowed Dagenais more time to secure legal representation. The upcoming forfeiture hearing is scheduled for August 31.