Accused cop takes stand

Photo: Contributed

A former RCMP officer accused of possessing child pornography took the stand in Kelowna court, Thursday.

Ryan Hampton faces nine counts, including two of possessing and accessing child pornography, six counts of breach of undertaking for contacting his ex-wife when ordered not to, and one count of attempting to obstruct justice by allegedly telling her not to contact police.

Hampton alleges his former wife, Valerie Little (a fellow officer), framed him during their marriage breakup.

On Thursday, Hampton was on the stand to rebut the testimony provided by Sgt. Michael Buxton-Carr the day before.

Buxton-Carr was the original officer to take possession of a flash drive Little turned in May 5, 2013, that contained the pornographic images.

Both Buxton-Carr's and Hampton's testimony are part of a voir dire to determine their admissibility in the trial. A decision to be made by Justice Barry Davies.

Hampton's recollection of his interaction with Buxton-Carr was quite different.

On Wednesday, Buxton-Carr recounted that Hampton told him his then-wife held the flash drive “over his head for a month” and that he thought she had destroyed it.

Hampton said he did not recall saying that.

Hampton also disagreed with Buxton-Carr's testimony that when he asked him why he never deleted the photos off the hard drive, he told him he had wanted Little to find it. Hampton claims that was never said. 

While on the stand, Hampton also said he was surprised he was not arrested that night. Given the severity of the charges Little was accusing him of, he thought he would be put in handcuffs when he arrived at the detachment.

While Buxton-Carr testified Hampton had told him police would "find what they were looking for" on his devices, Hampton said what he meant by that was everything he had ever searched for or done on the computer would be there – that nothing had been hidden or deleted.

“What I said to Mike (Sgt. Buxton-Carr) was that I had never looked for any kind of child porn and that any searches I had made would still be on the computer.”

As for Buxton-Carr's testimony he arrived at their home that evening to find Hampton with his service revolver and duty belt slung over his shoulder, and laptop in his hand, Hampton said he did that so he could walk outside and hand them over voluntarily.

Buxton-Carr will be brought back for further testimony. But, as he now lives in Kamloops, it's not known when that might be. While they wait for his next appearance, the voir dire will be put on hold and the trial will continue.

As of Wednesday morning, the Crown still has 10 witnesses to call to the stand, followed by cross-examination and any witnesses the defence may call.

For past stories on this case, click here.