Father of B.C. murder suspect watches clip of video taken before son’s death

By Renee Bernard and The Canadian Press

VANCOUVER — The father of a Vancouver Island murder suspect has now watched a video that his son made before he died by suicide in the Manitoba wilderness.

Sarah Leamon, the lawyer representing Alan Schmegelsky, says the two were able to view the 30-second clip a “safe and sensitive” location.

After a week-long negotiation with RCMP the pair watched the clip in a private room at the Surrey RCMP headquarters.

“It was a very emotional day,” Leamon says.  “As you can expect, for my client, he reacted in the manner that you would expect any father to react. This is a difficult time for him.”

Leamon and Schmegelsky both signed an agreement prohibiting them from discussing any of the details of the video. Earlier reports from RCMP say it included details on what Bryer wanted done with his body after his death.

Leamon says she can’t comment on what Bryer’s wishes were or whether he has been laid to rest.

Other family members, including Bryer’s mother, were shown the video in August.

Leamon says only Alan Schmegelsky had to retain a lawyer in order to see the video his son made before he took his own life, and says there is still no clear explanation of why he was not given access immediately.

“It’s very unfortunate, and indeed regrettable, that my client had to go through these extreme measures in order to get access to what’s been widely described as his son’s last will and testament when he should have just been given access to it from the very beginning.”

Bryer Schmegelsky, 18, and Kam McLeod, 19, were found dead of self-inflicted gunshot wounds in the wilderness of northern Manitoba after a national manhunt for the pair.

The pair were wanted in connection with three murders in Northern B.C.

RELATED: A timeline of events in RCMP investigation of three homicides in northern B.C.

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