The Mounties want your help finding Markel Downey.
“We’ve exhausted a lot of options,” said Cpl. Dal Hutchinson of the RCMP.
“We’ve reached out to family, friends and the surrounding community. We’re hoping Mr. Downeywill reach out to us and make arrangements to turn himself in.”
On Tuesday, the Nova Scotia Court of Appeal threw out Downey’s acquittal on three counts of attempted murder and a raft of other charges stemming from a shooting at a home in Cole Harbour on Nov. 30, 2014.
Downey is alleged to have shot three youths during the botched robbery.
He was acquitted last year because the trial judge doubted one of the victims’ ability to identify the masked assailants.
The appeal court ruled that the trial judge erred in law and didn’t place enough significance on the fact that the accused and the victim knew one another, which made her ability to recognize him stronger.
A retrial was ordered but in a news release Friday afternoon the RCMP say they can’t find the 22-year-old.
“Anyone who thinks they recognize Downey is advised not to approach him and contact police immediately by calling 911,” reads
the release that asks for the public’s assistance.
A Canada-wide warrant was issued Friday for Downey’s arrest.
Chris Hansen of the Public Prosecution Service said Friday that before a date could be set for a new trial, Downey would first have to be arrested.
Anyone with information on Downey’s whereabouts can also call police directly at 902-490-5020 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477
