One of three trials wrapped up for former convicted killer charged with fleeing police, ramming an RCMP officer’s cruiser in Chilliwack

by Paul Henderson a minute ago 2 min read

John Van Liere’s trial for assaulting police officer with a weapon, among other charges, set for April; flight from police trial set for May

February 13, 2026

The man charged with ramming a Chilliwack RCMP officer’s cruiser in the middle of the night last year had the first and least serious of three driving-related trials wrap up earlier this month.

In the most serious charge, John Van Liere is accused of striking a police cruiser and two other cars in a BMW when the officer tried to pull him over for erratic driving after 3 a.m. on May 16, 2025. He then allegedly hit a third vehicle before coming to a stop against a street light. The 45-year-old was then taken into custody and to the hospital for treatment.

Van Liere is charged with assaulting an officer with a weapon, failing to stop, flight from police, and dangerous operation of a vehicle. He is scheduled for a two-day trial April 1 and 2, 2026.

On Feb. 2, 2026, Van Liere had his first of three trials in 2026 for driving while his licence was suspended from Feb. 16, 2025, a violation of the motor vehicle act. He was found guilty, fined $575 and given an 18-month driving prohibition.

He is also charged with one count of flight from police and driving with a suspended licence from Dec. 20, 2024. He is scheduled for a one-day trial on May 29, 2026, for that charge. In advance of that trial, he is scheduled for a voir dire on April 16 and 17 with a decision on May 1. A voir dire is a trial within a trial, usually to address admissibility of evidence and/or Charter issues.

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Explainer: The phrase voir dire comes from old French meaning something close to “to speak the truth.” In modern courtrooms, it’s a hearing held without a jury (if there is one) to decide a specific legal issue before the main evidence rolls on.

John Van Liere has an unenviable criminal history. He was sentenced to 10 years for manslaughter in Lethbridge in 2003, and he beat a man nearly to death in Merritt in 2020. In the latter case, Van Liere actually thought he did kill the man calling a friend looking for shovels.

He was later sentenced to four years in jail for aggravated assault in connection with that Merritt assault in Kamloops court.

Van Liere remains in custody on the two main Chilliwack files that go to trial in April and May 2026.

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Paul J. Henderson
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