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BCCLA questions objectivity of expert consulted in alleged RCMP assault
VANCOUVER/CKNW (AM980)
Laura Baziuk | Email news tips to laura.baziuk@corusent.com
11/14/2012

No charges were ever laid against Terrace RCMP after a man in their custody was left brain damaged.

Now, the BC Civil Liberties Association is asking why did police consult a discredited expert in making their report to recommend charges?

Crown counsel says there was not enough evidence for a conviction against Mounties in terrace after Robert Wright was arrested and jailed back in April, and left brain-damaged.

That was after a report from the New Westminster police, who looked into the matter.

But BCCLA president Lindsay Lyster says the “use of force” expert consulted in the report, Vancouver Police Department Sgt. Brad Fawcett has been discredited during the inquiry into Robert Dziekanski's death.

Inquiry head Thomas Braidwood had called Fawcett’s findings “blinkered” and “troubling.”

"We don't understand why the crown or the police would be using a use of force expert whose evidence had been described in those kinds of terms,” Lyster says, adding she wants the entire investigation report released.

Crown says Fawcett’s opinion is just one part of the evidence considered on whether to approve charges.

New Westminster police say their investigation has ended, but they still can't talk specifics because of possible civil litigation or other reviews.

A spokeswoman says anyone having concerns about their work can go to the Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner.


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  1. ChrisM_18 posted on 11/14/2012 02:00 PM
    Hmmm ... could it be because the RCMP like the answers/conclusions this guy provides . He sounds like a bit of a homer for them !
    1. jg123456 posted on 11/16/2012 10:12 AM
      @ChrisM_18 Could it be that this guy acted like a complete asshole in cells and did the majority of the damage to himself while he was violently resisting the police at every opportunity. Don't forget this is all on video with all the audio. The video was what resulted in the no charges. The use of force expert was used as police obviously had to go hands on to control this looser. The bccla are making an issue where there is no issue here. A 3 year old could of made a judgement on the use of force used in this incident.

      To shut these people up the RCMP should release the cell block video and show the bccla and the public who have no concept about this case other than what David EBY tells them. Maybe he should run for the NDP. Oh wait he tried that and lost too.
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