Botched Justice: The Death of Crystal Taman

Botched Justice: The Death of Crystal Taman

From Dark Poutine - True Crime and Dark History by Dark Poutine / Curiouscast

August 31, 2026 · 1h 3m · Episode 434

About this episode

This episode discusses the tragic death of Crystal Taman and the subsequent legal proceedings involving the police officer responsible for the accident.

Episode 434: On the morning of February 25th, 2005, Crystal Taman, a forty-year-old dental assistant, wife, and mother of three, left her home in East St. Paul, Manitoba on her way to work. She never arrived. Stopped at a red light on Highway 59 at the Perimeter Highway, her car was struck at highway speed by a blue Dodge Dakota truck driven by an off-duty Winnipeg Police Service constable named Derek Harvey-Zenk, who had spent the night drinking with fellow officers at a north-end bar and a colleague's home. Crystal died on impact. Harvey-Zenk refused to provide a breath sample and was charged with impaired driving causing death, dangerous driving causing death, criminal negligence causing death, and refusal to provide a breath sample. More than two years later, all charges except dangerous driving causing death were stayed in a plea deal, and Harvey-Zenk was sentenced to two years less a day — served at home, with no conditions. The outcome sparked a public inquiry. Sources:TAMAN CRYSTAL - Obituaries - Winnipeg Free Press PassagesTaman Inquiry | WikipediaCrystal Ann Sveinson Taman (1964-2005) - Find…

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Host: Dark Poutine

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Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Winnipeg Police Service

Places: East St. Paul, Manitoba

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