Former Merritt RCMP member Cpl. Benjamin (Monty) Robinson has been officially discharged from the Mounties in light of his ongoing sentencing hearing for obstruction of justice.

Robinson was found guilty last March and could face a penalty of up to 10 years in prison. He attended a sentencing hearing in New Westminster court Friday in which the Crown asked for up to nine months in jail.

The judge adjourned Robinson's sentencing until next Friday.

In 2008, while driving home from a party, Robinson's Jeep crashed into a motorcycle in Delta. The motorcycle's driver, 21-year-old Orion Hutchinson, died as a result of the crash.

Deputy Commissioner Craig Callens, head of the RCMP in British Columbia, announced Friday that Robinson voluntarily submitted his discharge papers.

Callens said he signed the papers.

“While I have been clear that I was seeking his involuntary dismissal, the opportunity to discharge him from the organization this morning was one which eliminated further delays, costs and uncertainty.

“Mr. Robinson's career with the RCMP has ended.”

After the 2008 collision, police investigated Robinson, a Richmond RCMP member, for impaired driving. He had failed a breathalyser test at the scene of the accident. However, Robinson claimed that he went home and had two shots of vodka before returning to the crash site.

A judge then ruled that he could only be tried for obstruction of justice.

The Crown argued that he deliberately drank the vodka so police could not determine how much alcohol he had at the party while Robinson maintained he was an alcoholic who drank reflexively after the accident.

Robinson, as well as three other officers, were involved in the tasering death of Robert Dziekanski on Oct. 14, 2007, but were not charged following the lengthy Braidwood Inquiry.

The Crown concluded that the officers were lawfully engaged in their duties and the force exercised by the Mounties to subdue Dziekanski was reasonable and necessary.