Post by thedarkangel1975 on Jun 28, 2011 18:17:49 GMT -5
MONTREAL - Montreal police plan to meet Boston Bruins captain and star defenceman Zdeno Chara within the next few weeks.
The meeting comes nearly four months after the violent hit Chara laid on Habs forward Max Pacioretty at the Bell Centre.
Pacioretty suffered a concussion and a fractured cervical vertebra in his neck, which ended his season.
The NHL's decision not to suspend Chara caused a national outcry for stricter regulations against hockey violence.
Sgt. Ian Lafreniere of Montreal police said on Tuesday that investigators have spoken to several players who were on the ice at the time of the hit, but he would not say who or how many.
He said the delay in meeting with Chara is normal, since most of the witnesses were involved in the Stanley Cup playoffs. The last step of the investigation is to meet with Chara and compare his version of the event with that of Pacioretty and witnesses, to determine if the incident had a criminal element to it.
“This investigation wasn't necessarily a priority for them and we knew that. Their priority was the playoffs,” said Lafreniere.
Lafreniere said Montreal police were in no rush to meet with Chara. There was much speculation in the sports world that the player would be questioned during his last visit to Montreal for the first round of the playoffs in April.
“With this type of investigation, it wasn't necessary," said Lafreniere. "We were not worried about losing track of him. We know him very well. Everyone does.”
Lafreniere would not say when and where the interrogation will take place.
The meeting comes nearly four months after the violent hit Chara laid on Habs forward Max Pacioretty at the Bell Centre.
Pacioretty suffered a concussion and a fractured cervical vertebra in his neck, which ended his season.
The NHL's decision not to suspend Chara caused a national outcry for stricter regulations against hockey violence.
Sgt. Ian Lafreniere of Montreal police said on Tuesday that investigators have spoken to several players who were on the ice at the time of the hit, but he would not say who or how many.
He said the delay in meeting with Chara is normal, since most of the witnesses were involved in the Stanley Cup playoffs. The last step of the investigation is to meet with Chara and compare his version of the event with that of Pacioretty and witnesses, to determine if the incident had a criminal element to it.
“This investigation wasn't necessarily a priority for them and we knew that. Their priority was the playoffs,” said Lafreniere.
Lafreniere said Montreal police were in no rush to meet with Chara. There was much speculation in the sports world that the player would be questioned during his last visit to Montreal for the first round of the playoffs in April.
“With this type of investigation, it wasn't necessary," said Lafreniere. "We were not worried about losing track of him. We know him very well. Everyone does.”
Lafreniere would not say when and where the interrogation will take place.
