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THURSDAY, JANUARY 24, 2002

Law enforcement authorities in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, are investigating new evidence that suggests police officers played a role in the death of an Aboriginal man who was found frozen on the outskirts of town two winters ago.

The Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations, which has been closely investigating the deaths of several Native men, have reported new information about Lawrence Wegner. Two friends claim they witnessed police officers putting Wegner into a police cruiser shortly before he was found dead.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police are now following up on the information. As a result, a coroner's inquest, which was scheduled to hear witnesses yesterday, into Wegner's death was immediately halted.

Cops in Saskatoon have been associated with the freezing deaths of Aboriginal men for more than a decade. But while two ex-cops admitted abandoning a Native man who survived sub-zero degree weather, no evidence has been found directly linking officers to any deaths.

The former cops are appealing their conviction of unlawful confinement.

Get the Story:
New evidence halts inquest into Saskatchewan freezing death (CBC 1/24)

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

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