MOUNTIE KILLER'S HELPERS 'COWARDS'

Cop killer James Roszko would not have been able to "fulfil his
murderous intent" and mow down four Mounties without the help of two
Barrhead men in Alberta.

That's what Crown prosecutor Dave Labrenz said yesterday while arguing
Shawn Hennessey, 29, and Dennis Cheeseman, 25, should be sentenced to
up to 15 years in prison on their guilty pleas to manslaughter.

"They might as well have been inside the Quonset hut pulling the
trigger themselves," said Labrenz, criticizing the pair for deciding
against warning police despite knowing a ranting Roszko was enraged
and out for blood.

"These acts are reprehensible, cowardly and extremely selfish," said
Labrenz, noting the March 3, 2005, slayings of four constables were
the worst single loss of life in modern RCMP history.

Hennessey and Cheeseman were charged with first-degree murder, but
allowed to plead to manslaughter.

According to agreed facts, the pair gave Roszko, 46, a hunting rifle
belonging to Hennessey's grandfather and then drove him towards his
Mayerthorpe-area farm.

Court heard Hennessey was involved with Roszko in a marijuana grow op
on the farm and Cheeseman helped because he is Hennessey's
brother-in-law.

WINCHESTER

The pair met with Roszko on the evening of March 2, 2005, at
Hennessey's home. Hennessey wiped down the .300 Winchester Magnum
rifle belonging to his grandfather and gave it to Roszko along with a
box of ammunition.

Cheeseman then put on a pair of gloves and placed the rifle into a
white pillowcase for him.

Court heard it was clear that Roszko "was enraged at the police" and
intended to return and torch the Quonset.

Court also heard that while the pair was driving Roszko toward his
farm, Roszko was ranting and raving about the RCMP and threatening "to
get even with them."

After dropping off Roszko and heading home, Cheeseman suggested they
call police and warn them about Roszko. However, Hennessey discouraged
the idea over fears Roszko would come after them if he was to evade
police.

Meanwhile, police had been at Roszko's farm since the afternoon of
March 2, 2005, and had searched the Quonset and then removed stolen
property from a chop-shop operation and dismantled the marijuana grow-op.

Const. Leo Johnston, 32, and Const. Anthony Gordon, 28, remained to
maintain security at the farm overnight, and Const. Peter Schiemann,
25, and Const. Brock Myrol, 29, showed up about 9:30 a.m. the next
day.

Two Edmonton RCMP members then arrived and one spoke briefly with the
four officers before returning to join his partner while the four went
to the Quonset.

The two Edmonton Mounties then heard two loud bangs followed by a
further quick succession of bangs and screams and drew their guns and
ran to the Quonset.

QUONSET HUT

As one went back to call for help, Roszko emerged from the Quonset
carrying a hunting rifle and a semi-automatic assault rifle and shot
at the second officer, narrowly missing him. That officer returned
fire, hitting Roszko in the hand and thigh, and Roszko stumbled back
into the hut.

Police backup arrived a short time later and a police robot was sent
into the Quonset. The robot's video showed the four slain officers and
Roszko lying on his back.

A team was then sent in and it was determined that all four officers
and Roszko were dead.

Court heard police later found 19 shell casings and 13 bullets
originating from the semi-automatic .308 Heckler and Koch assault
rifle. Neither the rifle provided by Hennessey nor a 9-mm Luger
handgun had been fired.

It was also determined that Johnston had shot at Roszko, however the
bullet hit the butt plate of the Luger handgun that Roszko had tucked
into his waistband and then Johnston's gun jammed after failing to
properly eject the shell.

Autopsies revealed Johnston, Schiemann and Gordon all died as a result
of multiple gunshot wounds while Myrol died from a gunshot to the
head. Roszko died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the left side
of his chest.

Hennessey and Cheeseman were ordered into custody and the sentencing
hearing is slated to continue today with submissions from their
defence lawyers.