Judge to Issue Report On Taser Inquiry

Former justice Thomas Braidwood is expected to release the initial results of an inquiry into the use of tasers in Vancouver today.

According to CBC news, Thomas Braidwood is expected to release the initial results of an inquiry that was called after the death of Polish immigrant Robert Dziekanski, who died in the Vancouver International Airport in October of 2007, after RCMP officers used a taser on him. Officials of the commission say the announcement will likely deal with “the use of conducted energy weapons by law enforcement agencies in B.C.” However; another media source reported the announcement might also involve recommendations that severely restrict the use of tasers. Lawyer Walter Kosteckyj, representing Dziekanski's mother, Zofia Cisowski said that he, nor his client, were informed that an announcement would be made today on the inquiry. Kosteckyj said that neither the report nor its contents were even disclosed to them. He said that his client, Zofia Cisowski had already traveled back to Poland last week.

“We didn't know about it. She left last week. I think it's going to be very interesting to see what the recommendations are,” he said.

Kosteckyj expressed that he hoped that the recommendations ‘were significant’ and that there would be a suspension on the use of tasers until further testing could be done on the gun. B.C. Solicitor General Kash Heed will hold a press conference shortly after the release of what will be only the first phase of the inquiry. The second phase of the inquiry will examine the death Dziekanski's. It is not scheduled to take place until after police are finished with their investigations.