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Local

Independent cop oversight needed, BCCLA argues



Lawyer blames Dziekanski death on 'systematic failure"

By MATT KIELTYKA, 24 HOURS

The BC Civil Liberties Association have urged commissioner Thomas Braidwood to call for independent police oversight in British Columbia.

During closing submissions, BCCLA lawyer Grace Pastine said the death of Robert Dziekanski at the hands of four RCMP officers has "become a symbol of police wrong-doing."

"They Tasered a confused and unarmed immigrant. An innocent man died because of their judgement and their lethal use of force," said Pastine. "Their use of force was excessive, unreasonable and unjustified."

Much of the BCCLA's submissions echoed that of Walter Kosteckyj, the lawyer for Dziekanski's mother who called the incident an "overall systematic failure."

But Pastine did spend a considerable amount of time discussing the Davies Commission into Frank Paul's in-custody death, specifically his recommendation of an independent body to investigate police-involved deaths.

She said officers are burdened with divided loyalties and conflict of interests that prevent them from thoroughly investigating themselves - and urged Braidwood to adopt Davies' recommendation.

Closing submissions at the Braidwood Inquiry continue.

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