DELTA (NEWS1130) – A second degree murder charge has been laid against a Delta Police officer.

The Crown believes there’s enough evidence to charge Constable Jordan MacWilliams in the shooting of Mehrad Bayrami in New Westminster almost two years ago.

He made his first appearance in court this morning and has been released on bail.

Neil MacKenzie with the Crown can’t give many details as the case is before the courts, but he could say it relates to use of force. “The charge results from an on-duty incident on November 8th, 2012 that occurred near the Starlight Casino.”

Police were called to the casino parking lot around 6 a.m. Witnesses said Bayrami was distraught and even took a woman hostage briefly. The standoff ended when police set off a flash device and fired plastic and real bullets — at least one round at Bayrami.

Bayrami died in the hospital 10 days later.

The case was forwarded to the Independent Investigations Office almost a year later.

MacWilliams has been placed on administrative leave until the matter is resolved.

Since the Independent Investigations Office has been brought in to BC, this is the first set of charges like this stemming from a case it has dealt with.

Josh Patterson with the BC Civil Liberties Association has concerns over it taking two years and he hopes in the future that time can be shortened.

“Out of fairness to both the victims and the suspected police officers who shouldn’t have to live for too long a period of time with a suspicion over their head,” he explains.

Former police officer Leo Knight says we won’t know why this case warrants charges until it plays out in court.

“What we do know is what’s been publicly said about it and, of course, we have the video from that night of the incident but we don’t know what’s gone on in terms of the investigation, in terms of statements,” says Knight.

He says the Crown has a very high burden of proof and likely wanted to make sure it was a good case.

“The Crown was going back and forth with the IIO getting clarification on various points and having them do additional investigative work.”