The judgement in the obstruction of justice conviction of Cpl. Benjamin "Monty" Robinson has been adjourned until Friday.
But as Crown and defence made their submissions in a New Westminster court room last Friday, the RCMP announced that Robinson is no longer a police officer.
The 42-year-old former Richmond Mountie was convicted of obstruction of justice earlier this year for his actions following a fatal collision with a motorcyclist in Tsawwassen.
RCMP deputy commissioner Craig Callens announced that Robinson had submitted his voluntary discharge papers, which were signed Friday.
"While I have been clear that I was seeking his involuntary dismissal, the opportunity to discharge him from the organization this morning was one which eliminated further delays, costs and uncertainty," Callens said in a news release.
Robinson was the subject of an internal code of conduct investigation.
"Mr. Robinson's career with the RCMP has ended," said an RCMP spokesman.
Robinson was charged following the Oct. 25, 2008 crash that killed Orion Hutchinson. The 21-year-old died after a collision between his motorcycle and Robinson's Jeep at about 10: 15 p.m. at the corner of 6th Avenue and Gilchrist Drive.
Following the crash, Robinson left the scene with his children, leaving his driver's licence with a bystander, and walked to his home a couple of blocks away. After settling his children into bed, he went downstairs and drank two shots of vodka before returning to the scene of the crash.
During the trial, Robinson told the court he drank the vodka without thinking because it gave him comfort. An addictions specialist testified during trial that, in 2008, Robinson was an alcoholic and his actions were consistent with someone suffering from alcohol dependence.
In March, B.C. Supreme Court Justice Janice Dillon found Robinson's actions deliberate and convicted the RCMP officer of obstruction of justice.
Crown prosecutor Kris Prechet is seeking a sentence of three to nine months in jail for Robinson, or a conditional sentence of 12 to 18 months.
During his submissions to the court, Prechet said Robinson not only attempted to, but successfully obstructed justice.
"Mr. Robinson knew from the evidence in this case what the effect of his actions would be and he was indeed correct."
Defence lawyer David Crossin has asked for a three to six month conditional sentence for his client.
As part of his submission to the court, Crossin submitted a number of letters of support from Robinson's coworkers. One letter from the officer in charge of the Richmond detachment stated Robinson was a "well-respected member of this detachment" and the senior management team found him to be "a stellar performer and an asset to the organization."
"That now has come to nothing and his fall from grace has been agonizingly slow," Crossin said, adding that the fall out from the case and the 2007 Tasering incident at YVR has "rooted him in a kind of purgatory."
The court learned that since his conviction in March, Robinson has entered a residential addictions treatment facility. He is in the facility's extended care program, which is expected to continue for another month. Crossin asked the judge to include the program as part of his client's conditions should she choose to impose a conditional sentence.
The Crown submitted several victim impact statements to the court and Orion's father, Glenn Hutchinson, read his out. When Robinson was given chance to address the court, his response could not be heard in the gallery. However, outside, Crossin said his client was "exceedingly sorry for the loss of their son."
