Concerns over 'tainting' new evidence delays release of Don Dunphy reports

The Donald Dunphy commission is delaying the release of police reports pending a review of "new information" that was uncovered Monday night.

On Tuesday afternoon, the commissionreceived new information about the death of Dunphy that it forwarded to the RCMP,which then advised the commission that it requiredfurther investigation.

It is hoped that this will not be a lengthy delay.- Dunphy commission

"To avoid the possibility of tainting evidence, the RCMP has requested that the commission delay the public release of the reports that were intended to be released today," said the commission's statement.

"It is hoped that this will not be a lengthy delay."

The statement said more information will be provided early next week.

On April 5, 2015, Dunphy, 59, was shot and killed by Royal Newfoundland Constabulary Const. Joe Smyth.

Smyth was at Dunphy'shome, after the Mitchell Brook manwrote a series of tweets that criticized provincial politicians.

The reports the commission said would be released Tuesday are:

• The undated RCMP investigation report;
• The Aug. 30 report by the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team, which investigated the RCMP response;
• David Riche's Jan. 11 report as independent observer;
• The Sept. 14 report by the Saskatoon Police Service, called in by the RNCfor a review of the shooting;
• The Oct. 5 decision of the chief of police of the RNC on the internal investigation into Const. Joe Smyth'sconduct.

The RCMP said in a statement that the review of the new information "will be a priority," and reiterated that the force "respects the important work of the Commission."

Two-stages ofinquiry

The commission Tuesday also released details on the two-stage structure ofthe inquiry.

The first phase will be the fact-finding phase, focused on the circumstances leading up to and around Dunphy's death.

Witnesses will be called, examined and cross-examined.

The second phase will be the policy phase.

It will focus on how police communicate with the public and media after serious events and during investigations, the use of social media as a tool for "critiquing government policy and action," government and police monitoring of social media, police use of force particularly in dealing with "persons in crisis" and government and RNC policies regarding premier and cabinet security.