Frank Paul inquiry resumes
Posted Nov 3, 2010 03:54:03 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – There is another call for a civilian based investigation unit after a key admission at the Frank Paul inquiry that resumed today.
The criminal justice branch in the hot seat over its decision not to lay charges in the man’s death. Frank Paul, 48, died of hypothermia after being left in a back alley by Vancouver Police officers who had refused to let him into a drunk tank.
Director of legal services Gregory Fitch testified he didn’t feel any undue influence when asked by his boss, Assistant Deputy Attorney General Austin Cullen, to review Cullen’s 2001 decision not charge the officers, a move made in Cullen’s previous capacity as regional Crown Counsel. “I was free to come to view of the matter that I thought was appropriate. It took me too long to come to that view.”
Two and a half hours into his testimony, Fitch did admit the criminal justice branch took far too long to decide whether to purse charges. “But I was satisfied at the end of the day that the appropriate decision on the exercise of our discretion had been made.”
Kat Norris with the Indigenous Action Movement says the testimony shows the Crown cannot be trusted to investigate itself. “The fact that there is an inquiry is a victory in itself. But we want to take it further.”
That’s why she is backing calls for a civilian-based investigation unit as outlined by retired judge William Davies, the head of the inquiry in his preliminary report. “Any institution should not investigate themselves.”
His final report is due into the Attorney General by end of May 2011.
