'Embarrassing' mistake during press conference about Australian's murder
A live video of a press conference on the deaths of an Australian man and an American woman has caused embarrassment for Canadian police after a cat filter was accidentally engaged.
In the unfortunate gaffe, the clip was broadcast on social media showing Royal Canadian Mounted Police Sergeant Janelle Shoihet addressing media about the
murders of Lucas Fowler and Chynna Deese with cat ears and whiskers.
Journalist Tyler Dawson took a screenshot of the error before sharing on Twitter.
The B.C. RCMP are giving a press conference on the two people murdered on the Alaska Highway, and they have the cat ear filter on. pic.twitter.com/j8GvkvKA4u
— Tyler Dawson (@tylerrdawson) July 19, 2019
Many believed the force’s social accounts had been hacked, yet when Ottawa Bureau Chief for Global News Mercedes Stephenson pressed police on the matter, they took responsibility for the error.
“We are aware and addressing it as it's an automatic setting,” British Columbia RCMP responded on Twitter.
Dozens queried the force’s reasoning, confused how the filter could be set as a default one.
One woman wrote that the error was “embarrassing”.
“Why do you need the cat filter as an automatic setting?” one person asked.
Mr Fowler and Ms Deese were found dead near their blue van with gunshot wounds on the Alaska Highway in the northern part of British Columbia on Monday about 7am (local time).
The NSW man and his girlfriend were found 1000 kilometres from a notorious stretch of road known as ‘The Highway of Tears’ where more than 40 people have been murdered, sparking unfounded media reports suggesting a serial killer was responsible. Local authorities have denied any link.
Two NSW homicide detectives also travelled to Canada to help as liaisons.
Mr Fowler’s family, including his father, a NSW Police officer, have travelled to Canada as investigations into the deaths continue.
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