ST. CATHARINES — A Niagara Regional Police officer who repeatedly shot a colleague a year ago had his criminal charges withdrawn Friday in court, bringing an abrupt end to a shocking case of police-on-police violence.

Crown attorney Ian Bulmer said attempted murder and other related charges against Det.-Sgt. Shane Donovan were withdrawn after the prosecution determined “there was no reasonable prospect of conviction” against the 57-year-old veteran officer, who didn’t appear in court.

Bulmer said the prosecution reviewed the evidence but he wouldn’t reveal additional details because the alleged victim, Const. Nathan Parker, is still being prosecuted on assaulting a peace officer with a firearm and baton and other charges stemming from the Nov. 29, 2018 incident in Pelham at a traffic accident scene.

Parker was charged in March.

“The Crown realizes this case has attracted considerable public attention,” said Bulmer.

While Crowns normally cite reasons for these decisions, he couldn’t do so in order to preserve the proceedings against Parker.

Donovan’s lawyer, Joanne Mulcahy, thanked the Crown for making the right decision and stated her client “believed his actions were fully necessary, fully justified and in defence of his life.”

“Det.-Sgt. Donovan is a proud member of Niagara Regional Police and I am limited in what I can say because he’s an anticipated witness at Const. Parker’s trial,” said Mulcahy. “However, at those proceedings Det.-Sgt. Donovan will tell what happened, as he told the SIU.”

Mulcahy said her client co-operated with both the Special Investigations Unit and the OPP investigations into the incident.

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Parker’s lawyer, Joseph Markson, said he “couldn’t fathom the decision of the Crown not to proceed against Sgt. Donovan.”

“No theory of the case justifies Sgt. Donovan discharging of his firearm multiple times into my client’s body,” said Markson. “My client, who is still recovering from nine bullet wounds, is shocked and shaken.”

Parker, 53, will be back in court next Wednesday.

Niagara Regional Police Chief Bryan MacCulloch said both Donovan and Parker remain suspended with pay. Niagara cops still feel the repercussions of the bizarre incident. “This isolated incident has had, and continues to have a profound impact on our community,” said MacCulloch, who assured Niagara residents that the sworn and civilian members remain committed to serving and protecting their community and keeping it safe.

spazzano@postmedia.com