Botched Justice: The Death of Crystal Taman

Episode 434: On the morning of February 25th, 2005, Crystal Taman, a forty-year-old dental assistant, wife, and mother of three, left her home in East St. Paul, Manitoba on her way to work. She never arrived. Stopped at a red light on Highway 59 at the Perimeter Highway, her car was struck at highway speed by a blue Dodge Dakota truck driven by an off-duty Winnipeg Police Service constable named Derek Harvey-Zenk, who had spent the night drinking with fellow officers at a north-end bar and a colleague's home. Crystal died on impact. Harvey-Zenk refused to provide a breath sample and was charged with impaired driving causing death, dangerous driving causing death, criminal negligence causing death, and refusal to provide a breath sample. More than two years later, all charges except dangerous driving causing death were stayed in a plea deal, and Harvey-Zenk was sentenced to two years less a day — served at home, with no conditions. The outcome sparked a public inquiry. Sources: TAMAN CRYSTAL - Obituaries - Winnipeg Free Press Passages Taman Inquiry | Wikipedia Crystal Ann Sveinson Taman (1964-2005) - Find a... http://www.tamaninquiry.ca/ May 2012: No memory of fatal crash: Harvey-Zenk | Winnipeg Free Press Review clears police force after controversial case | Global News Harvey-Zenk appeared tired, not drunk, at party before crash, inquiry hears | CBC News Province of Manitoba | Archived News Releases | Taman Report Published Former cop finally takes the stand | Global News Major changes to how police officers will be investigated | CTV News Police told cousin Harvey Zenk was drunk | Global News Jun 2012: Ex-officer from Taman inquiry sues RCMP, police | Winnipeg Free Press Bringing the Thin Blue Line into Line: Bill 16, the Police Services Act, 2011 CanLIIDocs 256 Disgraced cop’s lawyer slams Taman inquiry | Global News Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices