Norman Cocks with his father Bob Cox.
Image Credit: gangstersout.blogspot.ca
February 07, 2014 - 11:02 AM
KELOWNA - Two full-patch members of the Hells Angels gang were sentenced to 15 years in prison today in the 2011 homicide of unarmed Kelowna man Dain Phillips.
It's the first B.C. homicide conviction of full-patch members of the Hells Angels, after they pleaded guilty to manslaughter last week.
Phillips was assaulted June 12, 2011 by several people on McCurdy Road, near Mackenzie Road in Kelowna over an alleged feud between Phillips' two sons and two other youths, Daniel and Matthew McRae, according to the Vancouver Sun. Phillips was struck with a baseball bat and a hammer and died of his injuries. Four more men are currently on trial for their alleged roles in the Phillips' death.
“Investigations such as this are both challenging and time-consuming and I would like to acknowledge the diligence of our investigative team and our partners at CFSEU-BC,” says Supt Nick Romanchuk, Officer in Charge of the Kelowna RCMP. “Although the matter remains before the Courts, I hope these guilty pleas will serve to bring some measure of closure to those who cared for Dain Phillips.”
Chief Superintendent of the Combined Special Forces Enforcement Unit, Dan Malo, says his team worked closely with the Kelowna RCMP to bring Thomas and Cocks to justice.
“Previous investigations and convictions have made it clear that members of the Hells Angels are involved in drugs, weapons, and violence-related offences," Malo says. "Through a coordinated and unified effort, CFSEU-BC and its partner agencies will continue to disrupt organized crime groups like the Hells Angels and eliminate their continued threat to public safety.”
Robert Cocks, Daniel McRae, Matthew McRae and Anson Schell have pleaded not guilty to manslaughter earlier this week and their trials are currently ongoing in Vancouver Law Courts.
Robert Leonard Thomas.
Image Credit: Combined Special Forces Unit British Columbia
To contact the reporter for this story, email Adam Proskiw at aproskiw@infotelnews.ca, call (250) 718-0428 or tweet @AdamProskiw.
News from © iNFOnews, 2014