Philip Pynn's family alleges investigation halted after arrest

Relatives of Philip Pynn, who faces a prison sentence for manslaughter in the 2011 shooting death of his friend Nick Winsor, say he was an easy target for police.

Late Thursday, a 12-person jury found Philip Pynn, 28, not guilty of second-degree murder, but found him guilty of the lesser charge of manslaughter.

• Philip Pynn guilty of manslaughter, Lyndon Butler acquitted on all counts

Pynn and Lyndon Butler were accused in the shooting death of Winsor, 20, in Tom "Billy" Power's garage on Portgual Cove Road in July 2011.

Butler was acquitted of all charges.

...  so yes there is definitely prejudice when it comes to Philip.- Charlotte Murphy

Pynn's aunt Charlotte Murphy said police did not conduct a full investigation into Winsor's death. 

"They basically stopped their investigation once they heard Philip's name — they didn't search Power's house until January, the crime scene, the house that was on the crime scene," Murphy told reporters outside Supreme Court.

"It should have been searched right away — they didn't search it. They didn't search anything — they never even had a weapon at the time," she said.

"They never found any weapon and they still didn't search his house because Philip's name was mentioned and they basically stopped their investigation, so, yes, there is definitely prejudice when it comes to Philip."

Close ties

Throughout the trial, the jury learned that the Pynn family and Winsor family were close.

Murphy said Winsor's mother, Donna Pardy, had lived with the Pynn family before the shooting happened.

"Donna, Nick's mother, she was hoping for a not guilty plea as well," Murphy said. 

"I just spoke to her in the courtroom, and I speak to her all the time. I've known her since she was 15, since before she even had Nick. We all babysat Nick."

"We're really, really tight — really, really close and Donna was hoping for a not guilty. She was bawling in the courtroom today."

'Fair and objective investigation'

Crown prosecutor David Bright said he was not surprised with the verdict, given complications with in the case.

Bright said the police and the Crown did all they could. 

"I think it was a very, very thorough, fair and objective investigation," Bright told reporters, "I think we did the best we could, I did, it's my responsibility. No, I wouldn't have changed anything at all."

"The facts of the case were relatively simple, in my view. There were all the additional features that were brought up, the anticipation of what the defence may suggest, I think, caused additional complications."

Bright said he was surprised that the jury came back with a verdict without asking the judge any questions. However, he said they had a long, detailed charge from the judge, which helped with deciding a verdict.

"They worked very hard at it, I mean they were there last night, they were there all day today," he said.

"As I say, I don't think the facts were complicated, it was just some of these additional features."

Pynn will be back in court on Nov. 24, when a date is expected to be set for a sentencing hearing.