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Mayerthorpe convicts blocked from inquiry

Last Updated: Thursday, August 19, 2010 | 2:58 PM MT

The Canadian Press
Four RCMP officers died at this farm near Mayerthorpe, Alta., in 2005. Two men serving jail time for their role in the deaths will not be allowed to take part in the fatality inquiry into the shootings.Four RCMP officers died at this farm near Mayerthorpe, Alta., in 2005. Two men serving jail time for their role in the deaths will not be allowed to take part in the fatality inquiry into the shootings. (Jeff McIntosh/Canadian Press)

Two men serving jail time for their role in the deaths of four Mounties near Mayerthorpe, Alta., in 2005 will not be allowed to take part in the fatality inquiry into the shootings.

Shawn Hennessey is shown entering the Edmonton courthouse in January 2009, before he was sentenced for taking part in the deaths of four RCMP officers.Shawn Hennessey is shown entering the Edmonton courthouse in January 2009, before he was sentenced for taking part in the deaths of four RCMP officers. (CBC)

A hearing to determine who will testify and ask questions at the inquiry was held Thursday in Stony Plain, outside Edmonton.

Barry Hennessey, the father of Shawn Hennessey, asked the judge whether his son and Dennis Cheeseman, Shawn's brother-in-law, could have official standing and take part in the inquiry, which is to begin Jan. 11.

He said the men have lots of information about what happened just before the four RCMP officers were gunned down by farmer and marijuana grower James Roszko on March 3, 2005.

The judge turned down the request, saying the terms of reference for the inquiry are narrow and that Cheeseman and Hennessey weren't actually at the scene when the Mounties were killed.

The two men pleaded guilty to manslaughter for their part in helping Roszko by giving him a ride and a gun and failing to warn RCMP that he planned to confront police.

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