FROM THE ARCHIVE
CBC investigates suspicious death of Native man
Facebook Twitter Email
MONDAY, APRIL 14, 2003

The Canadian Broadcasting Company investigates the case of Lawrence Wegner, an Aboriginal man found frozen to death on the outskirts of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, in February 2000.

The family believes the police were involved. The RCMP looked into Wegner's death but didn't lay charges against anyone.

CBC reports that the initial investigation into Wegner's death was botched. Police officers contaminated the crime scene, covering up footprints that could have helped identify anyone involved.

CBC also reports on suspicious circumstances of the death. Police say an intoxicated Wegner wandered into a snow-filled field and died there. But Wegner's socks showed no dirt or holes and the police never kept his clothes, which had blood stains.

Days after Wegner was found dead, an Aboriginal man came forward and said police dumped him on the outskirts of town, also in freezing weather. The two cops involved admitted abandoning but denied criminal wrongdoing. They were convicted of unlawful confinement and are serving eight months in prison.

Get the Story:
Wegner death remains a mystery to family (CBC 4/14)
COLD CASE: The Lawrence Wegner Story (CBC 4/14)

Relevant Links:
Starlight Tours, from the CBC - http://cbc.ca/national/magazine/starlight/index.html

Related Stories:
White cops report to jail for brutality incident (03/14)
Sask. police say brutality complaints investigated (03/14)
Cops implicated in death of Native man (01/24)
Former cops appeal conviction (12/10)
White cops denied Native justice (12/4)
White cops want Native justice (10/31)
Officers found guilty for abandoning Native man(9/21)
Officers admit abandoning Native man (9/19)
All-white jury selected for Sask. officers (9/11)
Hearing held for accused cop (9/12)
Racial tensions rise over police harassment (5/04)
First Nations say police charges don't go far enough (4/13)
Officers charged in Saskatoon (4/12)