A special prosecutor has been assigned to decide whether four Mounties should face criminal charges over an inappropriate relationship one officer had with a potential witness in the investigation into the Surrey Six case, one of Canada's worst-ever gang slayings.
One officer was involved in the relationship, but the others have fallen under the scrutiny of the Ontario Provincial Police, which conducted an arm's-length investigation into the situation. That OPP review began in February, 2010.
A statement on the case released Thursday says four officers are under review over the matter.
Lawyer Christopher Considine has been retained by the Criminal Justice Branch to conduct a final review of the OPP report in order to decide whether charges should be laid, and conduct a prosecution and appeal if necessary.
In October, 2007, six men were found shot dead in a Surrey high-rise. Four of the victims had links to the region's criminal gangs, but two of the men - Christopher Mohan and Ed Schellenberg - were innocent bystanders.
One man has pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the case and been sentenced to life in prison. Four other men are awaiting trial on charges of murder and conspiracy to commit murder.