Veterans advocate demands inquiry into killings involving former soldier

Nova Scotia veterans advocate PeterStoffersays the murder suicide of LionelDesmondand his family earlier this year "screams" for a public inquiry and urgesboth the provincial and federal governments to take action.

The former NDP member of Parliament, and opposition critic for Veterans Affairs, has been writing formal letters to Canada's defence minister, Veterans Affairs and Premier StephenMcNeilto demand that either the province or Ottawa launch an inquiry into the Jan. 3 deaths of the former Canadian soldier and three members of his family.

Desmond, a 33-year-old former Canadian soldier, took his own life after shooting his 52-year-old mother Brenda, his wifeShanna, 31, and their 10-year-daughterAaliyahin the family'sAntigonishCounty home.

A veteran of the war in Afghanistan,Desmondsuffered from post-traumatic stress disorder.

His sister, CassandraDesmond, told CBC News in January thatDesmond'swar experience had created "a mental monster inside of my brother that he couldn't control anymore."

Stofferhas never met with the family but sent them condolences following the deaths.

Medical examiner rejectsinquiry

Nova Scotia's chief medical examiner Dr. Matthew Bowes has decided against holding a fatality inquiry into the deaths that rocked the small community ofUpper BigTracadie.

"To say I was disappointed would be an understatement,"Stoffersaid Wednesday.

"If anything, what happened that night on on Jan. 3 screams for an inquiry, either by the federal or provincial government or a combination of both,"Stoffersaid.

He pointed to what he describes as the "many system failures along the way that caused Mr.Desmondto react the way that he did and to only surmise that the only way out for him was to take his own life but before he did that to take the lives of three other people."

Stoffer, who served 18 years as an MP,said only a public inquiry will answer whetherDesmondand his family were receiving thehelp and benefits they needed in a timely fashion; if there were any concerns by the Department of National Defence before his medical release; and about his dealings with the province's and military's mental health services.

But the Department of National Defence has saidit won't investigate the deaths, thatit has no authority to investigate the lives of retired members.

The Nova Scotia Health Authority said it has completed areview ofDesmond's treatment bythe province's health-care system but will not make itpublic.

Any warning signs?

"Were there warning signs that could have been detected by people in the know who may have been able to have prevented this from happening?"Stofferasked.

Desmondhad received mental health treatment in the past at a Montreal clinic and had been part of a joint personnel support unit, which supports ill and injured members, until his release from the military in 2015.

Failing to call aninquiry gives the perception that the province and the federal government are keeping information from the public, Stoffer said.

"I hope that's not the truth, I hope that's not the real reason why they're not doing it,"hesaid. "It could also be for fiscal reasons, they want to try to save money. But I hope that's not the excuse either because if any situation ever needed an inquiry, it's this one."

VETS Canada supports inquiry

Anon-profit organization in Dartmouth that helps veterans who are homeless or in crisis supports an inquiry into the tragedy.

"We do feel that the family is entitled to some answers. Without all the details, we don't know why the decision was made to not hold an inquiry, but it is disappointing for sure,"says DebbieLowther, who co-foundedVETS CanadaVeterans Emergency Transition Services in 2010.

• Vet angry over decision not to hold inquiry into former soldier's murder-suicide

She said VETS staff and volunteers wish they'dhad the opportunity to help LionelDesmondthrough peer support.

"We wish we had known about this veteran before he reached that level of despair. Maybe we could have held his hand and guided him to the right resources so that he could have received the help."

Lowther believesa peer or mentor should be assigned to armed forces members when they are releasedto maintain a link to their old life in the military. "It is difficult for them when they take the uniform off," she said.

The demand is there, she said. VETS Canada has helped over 1,600 military and RCMP veterans across the country in the past seven years, assisting134 people last month alone.