The Attorney General’s immediate announcement of the appointment of a Special Prosecutor reflects the damning findings made by Justice Braidwood, including the statement that the “public can draw its own conclusions about misconduct.” Justice Braidwood’s conclusion reflects the longstanding and widely held public sentiment and view that a Special Prosecutor ought to be appointed.  This was illustrated by the CCRM which advocated and circulated a petition signed by thousands of members of the public, demanding such an appointment, and which was submitted to the Criminal Justice Branch (“CJM”) of the Attorney General’s Ministry.

Justice Braidwood has confirmed that, which was publicly known because of the Paul Pritchard video. The decision of the CJB was then and remains indefensible.  It raises serious doubt about the impartiality and competence of the CJB decision to not recommend charges in 2008.   Its decision was totally unjustified and incredible.

This all caused unacceptable delay and compounded the suffering to Zofia Cisowski. It also cost millions of dollars of taxpayers money – the Inquiry while it has performed an important public function – only confirms what we (the public) already knew.  Therefore, we call on the B.C. Legislature to examine and review the conduct and operation of the Criminal Justice Branch in the Dziekanski case.  Public confidence and accountability in the administration of justice requires this as well.

We would like also to praise Justice Braidwood for recommending the creation of an independent civilian oversight body to deal with police misconduct.

We believe Zofia Cisowski may have been unnecessarily pressured by the RCMP for out of court settlement of the civil lawsuit and urged to not publicly seek criminal charges, prior to the release of the Braidwood Report.

The RCMP resistance and interference in the matter of potential criminal charges has backfired in view of the final Inquiry Report and the imminent appointment of a Special Prosecutor. In addition, as we learned today, the Polish Ambassador to Canada confirmed the Polish Authorities continue to maintain an open file and interest in criminal proceedings in Poland.  Zofia Cisowski is represented in Poland by lawyers, Piotr Banasik and B. William Sundhu.  The CCRM will continue to monitor firsthand the developments in Poland and inform the public through media.

The Inquiry report is a powerful indictment of the shameful conduct of officers and which “shocked and repulsed people all over the world.”   The RCMP engaged in a cover up – all of which has tarnished Canada’s international image.  Regretfully, the only non-governmental organization which supported the RCMP and expressed its willingness to assist the RCMP in restoring its image in Canada and around the world was the Canadian Polish Congress. This shameful act took place in Ottawa on July 29, 2009 at a meeting between Władysław Lizoń, the President of the Canadian Polish Congress and RCMP Commissioner William Elliot.

The CCRM feels the position it has consistently taken and advocated has been vindicated by the findings of the Inquiry Report and the appointment of a special prosecutor.   

Sadly, no passage of time can diminish the true nature of this tragedy. 

Zygmunt Riddle, Tel. 604-868-7070, zriddle@shaw.ca

Bill Sundhu (Spokesperson for CCRM)

Tel: (O) 778-471-5777 (C) 250-574-2124

Email: bill@bwilliamsundhu.com

Web: http://bwilliamsundhu.com/index.html

http://www.billsundhu.ca/

 MEDIA ADVISORY, April 7^th, 2010

 The supporters of the CCRM are pleased to learn that Zofia Cisowski, mother of Robert Dziekanski who died at Vancouver International Airport after being tasered by RCMP officers, has reached settlement of her civil law suit against various defendants, including the RCMP, Canada Border Services and governmental authorities.  

 The circumstances surrounding the death of Mr. Dziekanski and her struggle for accountability have taken a heavy toll on Ms. Cisowski over the past 2 ½ years.   It has affected her health and the stress had become increasingly unbearable for her.  The resolution of the civil suit will hopefully bring some peace of mind and as she stated, allow her to move forward – to begin the process of healing – as much as it is possible when it involves the senseless loss of life. There is need to respect her privacy and personal dignity.

 The CCRM will continue to press for public accountability.   Many questions and concerns remain unanswered and unaddressed. These include questions around:

• use of force,
• the process of investigation involving allegations against law enforcement officers,
•  confidence in the integrity of police conduct and dissemination of information, and
•  public confidence in the administration of justice – including the decision of the Criminal Justice Branch to not recommend criminal charges against individual officers involved in the incident with Mr. Dziekanski. 

 The CCRM has consistently called for the appointment of a special prosecutor to oversee the investigation and determination of criminal charges.  This would address the issue of public confidence in the administration of justice through an independent prosecutor.  

 The Braidwood Inquiry is an important part of the process of informing the public what happened – but, it is not a criminal law process.   The CCRM is concerned that the criminal law process operate and be seen to operate properly – as a matter of rule of law and public confidence in the administration of justice.   

 Balwinder William Sundhu

http://www.billsundhu.ca/

(250) 574-2124

 Zygmunt Riddle

(604) 868-7070

zriddle@shaw.ca

By Neal Hall, Vancouver Sun, May 27, 2009

 Photograph by: Ian Smith, Vancouver Sun

Wed Oct 14, 10:01 PM

Zofia Cisowski (L) is comforted by her friend Zygmunt Riddle prior to a memorial service for her son Robert Dziekanski at Holy Rosary Cathedral in Vancouver, British Columbia, October 14, 2009. The service was held to commemorate the second anniversary of Dziekanski’s death after being tasered by police at Vancouver International Airport during an altercation, after immigrating from Poland to join his mother in 2007.

REUTERS/Andy Clark (CANADA ANNIVERSARY SOCIETY)

Wed Oct 14, 9:46 PM

James Keller
THE CANADIAN PRESS

Robert Dziekanski’s mother Sofia Cisowski, left, is comforted by friend Zygmunt Riddle as she cries after placing flowers near the spot where her son died to mark what would have been his 42nd birthday at Vancouver International Airport in Richmond, B.C., on Wednesday April 15, 2009. (CP/Darryl Dyck)

VANCOUVER–Robert Dziekanski’s mother returned Wednesday to the scene of his fatal confrontation with the RCMP to mark what would have been his 42nd birthday.

Zofia Cisowski flew in from her home in Kamloops, B.C., and left flowers, two candles and a get-well-soon card near where her son collapsed after he was stunned with a Taser in the international arrivals area.

Saying she is still broken-hearted over his very public death 18 months ago, Cisowski paused briefly to pray before signing the card, which on the front had a brown teddy bear and the words, “Get better soon.”

“I just feel I have to, I must,” an emotional Cisowski told reporters. “If I (do) not today go to Vancouver, then my heart may be broke.”

Cisowski was escorted by an airport official into the secure area where Dziekanski had his fatal confrontation with police.

Much has changed in the year and a half since the death. A glass wall that separated onlookers has been replaced by a large information booth, and construction has partitioned off parts of the terminal.

But the area is still recognizable from a witness’s dramatic video of Dziekanski’s death, broadcast countless times around the world.

Cisowski walked along the railing that four RCMP officers hopped over before they approached her son, and within seconds stunned multiple times with the Taser.

She continued through the same door that, minutes before police arrived, the witness video shows Dziekanski had blocked as he started throwing furniture around.

And Cisowski sobbed into the arms of a friend as she stood in the area where her son was hit with the first jolt of electricity from the Taser, his chilling screams echoing throughout the hall.

Dziekanski, who didn’t speak English and was coming to Canada from Poland to live with his mother, had been in the airport for nearly 10 hours.

He mistakenly believed he could meet his mother in the secure customs hall, but Cisowski was in the public area with no way to contact him. She was eventually told by immigration staff that he likely wasn’t at the airport, and she should return home.

By the time Dziekanski finally cleared customs, she was gone.

After the memorial at the airport, Cisowski returned to an ongoing public inquiry into her son’s death.

A homicide investigator who examined the scene told the inquiry that Dziekanski’s suitcases had the usual necessities of travel: socks, underwear, toiletry items, a Polish-English dictionary.

He also had a large collection of atlases, binders and books – a testament to his love of geography.

There was a cellphone that didn’t work in Canada, and a small amount of money: 15 euros (about $24 Cdn), 90 Polish zlotys (about $34 Cdn) and some coins. In one pocket of his jacket he had a wallet and ID cards and in another a strawberry danish, possibly from one of his flights.

Dziekanski, who police have suggested was an alcoholic suffering from withdrawal, also had a bottle of vodka, full and unopened. An autopsy showed potential signs of chronic alcohol abuse, such as a fatty liver, but there were no alcohol or drugs in his system.

RCMP Const. Paul Hoivik said he and three other homicide investigators from an integrated police unit, called in to investigate the in-custody death, watched the witness video taken by Paul Pritchard at about 5:30 a.m. – roughly four hours after the confrontation.

The video has raised questions about the initial account of Dziekanski’s death given by the officers involved to homicide investigators and by RCMP officials in media reports. The witness video, played again and again at the inquiry, became public more than a month after Dziekanski’s death.

RCMP officials are expected to appear at the inquiry next week.