I can't help but think of gregor-ee's stupid post when I read about this...
Message 26099636
Robert Dziekanski's mother to attend Friday's Braidwood report release
The final hours of Dziekanski's life, from when he boarded a plane in Poland to when he lay writhing on the floor of Vancouver's airport after being stunned by an RCMP Taser, will be recounted by dozens of witnesses at a public inquiry beginning Monday.
Braidwood Commission issues final report on the tasering of Polish immigrant at Vancouver Airport
Wednesday, Jun. 16, 2010 4:09PM EDT
Robert Dziekanski’s mother says she is looking forward to Friday’s release of the final report by Thomas Braidwood into the death of her son as a result of a 2007 confrontation with RCMP that was broadcast round the world on video recorded by a bystander and led to a sweeping debate about the police use of tasers.
Zofia Cisowski said in an interview from Kamloops that she would not miss it. “I was waiting two years and half for the final report of Judge Braidwood. Of course I will be there,” she said Wednesday.
“I am hoping to see the truth from Judge Braidwood’s report and more recommendations for RCMP officers,” Ms. Cisowski said. “I would like to see if they have consequences from their actions, what they did.”
She said she is more and angry about the situation, including the fact that the officers continue to be employed by the RCMP. “I want to find the truth in what the RCMP did and why they did such a bad job.”
Ms. Cisowski said she continues to be haunted by the events of October 14, 2007, noting she recently saw a clip of images of her son’s confrontation as moments of the infamous video were played in a TV report. “[It] made me so sick again, and again and again,” she said, losing her composure as she recalled the matter.
She said she was told about the report date two weeks ago, but has not seen its contents.
The RCMP apologized to Ms. Dziekanski – an apology she accepted. They also agreed to an undisclosed out-of-court settlement, and have funded a scholarship in her son’s name.
Friday’s final report, based on about 70 days of hearings before the retired BC Supreme Court justice, covers events leading to the death of the 40-year-old Mr. Dziekanski on Oct. 14, 2007.
Confirmation of the release at 10 a.m. Friday came Wednesday in a statement from Mr. Braidwood’s office. Mike de Jong, the B.C. solicitor-general and attorney-general, says he plans to comment on the report soon after its release.
An earlier report assessed the police use of tasers.
The Vancouver-based lawyer for the Polish government said he and his clients are looking forward to the release of the document.
“The Polish government remains very concerned about the incident, and I do not believe their concern has been, in the slightest bit, diminished especially after hearing the evidence tendered during the 70 days of hearings,” said Don Rosenbloom.
Four Mounties responding to a 911 call confronted Mr. Dziekanski at the airport after he began acting erratically. Mr. Dziekanski, 40, was agitated after being lost in the airport for 11 hours and spending 20 hours in transit from Poland to begin a new life in Canada with his mother, a resident of Kamloops who was waiting for him outside the airports arrival area.
Mr. Dziekanski was tasered five times by the police, who also tackled him. Mr. Dziekanski subsequently died of cardiac arrest. The incident was recorded on video by a bystander and broadcast around the world.
The Crown ruled out criminal charges against the four officers. Late last year, a three-member panel of the B.C. Court of Appeal rejected an appeal of a lower-court decision that Mr. Braidwood had jurisdiction to reach conclusions about allegations of misconduct, clearing him to draw such conclusions.
Mr. Dziekanski, 40, lost and disoriented at Vancouver International Airport after arriving from Poland to begin a new life in Canada with his mother, drew the attention of four RCMP officers responding to a 911 call prompted by his conduct.
theglobeandmail.com |
