The parents of a slain Mountie have filed an appeal in the Supreme Court to stop their son's remains from being moved nearly 1,000 kilometres away to the national RCMP cemetery in Regina.
Grace Johnston, mother of Const. Leo Johnston, lost her appeal on May 16 to keep her son's body in a Lac La Biche cemetery close to the town where he grew up.
The Alberta Court of Appeal ruled earlier this month that Kelly Johnston, Const. Leo Johnston's widow, has the right to move his body nearly 1,000 kilometres away to the national RCMP cemetery in Regina.
Johnston's lawyer, Sidd Tarrabain, said later this month he will go back before the Court of Appeal to ask for a stay of their decision until the Supreme Court case is heard.
Johnston was buried in his hometown of Lac La Biche, Alta., after he and three other Mounties were killed near Mayerthorpe, Alta., in 2005.
There has been a bitter battle between Kelly Johnston and the Mounties' parents and other supporters, who wanted Johnston's body to remain near his home in Lac La Biche.
Johnston's widow, Kelly, says her husband should be honoured as a Mountie and be buried at the national cemetery.
Johnston died without leaving a will and his wife is the administrator of his estate.
Tarrabain said it will be many months before the matter is actually heard by the Supreme Court.
