RCMP officer described as ‘friend’ of Nazi mass shooter to testify before inquest

On Tuesday, the RCMP officer, once described by another police officer as a “friend” of the man behind the 2020 mass shootings in Nova Scotia, will testify before the inquest into the killing spree, though it will not air.

constant Greg Wiley, who is scheduled to testify via video Tuesday afternoon, will be the first pre-inquest witness whose video or audio testimony will not be available on the livestream used throughout the trial.

The commission said Wiley’s scheduled Zoom appearance on Friday can be viewed by investigators, the media and members of the public who have emailed requests to see the virtual testimony live. Live audio access to the sessions will also be available via phone.

The placement request was made by the Attorney General and means video and audio of Wiley’s responses “may not be distributed, published, published or shared.”

Wiley is the officer asked in 2010 to investigate whether Gabriel Wortman — the gunman behind the deadly shooting spree — had firearms at his home in Portapique, NS, when Wortman threatened to kill his parents.

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The investigation into the alleged death threat resulted in no charges.

In his interview last year, Wiley told commission investigators he was on good terms with Wortman and they often had brief “chinwags” at the killer’s home. Wiley estimated he’d visited Wortman at the “stadium” 15 times over the years, but he said he didn’t notice anything unusual.

According to a report shared by the inquiry in May, Halifax Regional Police led the investigation into Wortman’s threats against his parents in 2010. The investigating officer, now retired Sgt. Cordell Poirier, had referred to Wiley as a “friend” of Wortman, the report said. Poirier had said he had asked Wiley on several occasions to visit Wortman’s Portapique home to search for firearms and determine if a search warrant was needed.

Wortman’s wife, Lisa Banfield, told the inquest July 15 that Wiley came to the Portapique estate in June 2010 to see if there were any guns at the residence. Wiley’s visit followed Wortman’s threats to his parents.

Banfield said Wiley was shown antique guns at the home during a 10-minute visit.

During his interviews with attorneys last year for the public inquiry, Wiley could not recall details of the June 2010 inquiry. In a follow-up letter to the investigation, a lawyer for the RCMP said Wiley no longer has his notes from that period.

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Wiley is also linked to a 2017 murder case under federal investigation.

Susie Butlin, of Bayhead, NS, had complained to the RCMP about being sexually assaulted and molested by Ernest Ross Duggan before he killed her in September 2017. In August of that year, Wiley Butlins received complaints of harassment and was appointed lead investigator.

According to the internal police report, Wiley “determined that there was no basis for charges” and advised her to block Duggan on Facebook.

The inquiry into Butlin’s death is currently being considered by a federal civilian review, which will examine the RCMP’s response to their complaints and the adequacy of its handling of sexual assault investigations.

The commission has previously approved shelters for RCMP witnesses. In May, it allowed two senior Mounties to answer questions in taped sessions instead of testifying before attorneys and attendees.

Members of the public can find information on requesting access to this afternoon’s testimony on the Nova Scotia Mass Casualty Commission website.