The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary is responding to questions regarding an exorbitant price tag associated with bringing an accused murderer back to this province.

Sheldon Hibbs, arrested in Calgary last March, has been charged in connection with the murder of Michael King in the Waterford Valley area of St. John’s one year ago.

According to the RNC, the Criminal Code of Canada allows accused criminals to be held in custody for six days to allow them to be transported to the jurisdiction in which the charges have been laid.

In Hibbs’ case, police say the initial attempt to transport him back to the province resulted in the man being banned from commercially-operated flights. They say without the option of a commercial flight, police had to consider other options in addition to the 6-day transportation timeline.

After what the RNC calls “an array of inquiries,” including the RCMP and several charters, they secured transportation via a privately-owned aircraft.

The CBC has reported the price tag associated with that flight was $91,000.

RNC say the reason why Hibbs couldn’t make a video appearance in court from Calgary is that if the arrest warrant were to be executed there, the judge in this province would not have had the jurisdictional authority to remand the accused.

The Constabulary consulted with legal professionals to exhaust all potential options and say they acted in the interest of national safety, within their legal authority, and in the interest of justice for Michal King.