A former judge will lead the inquiry into the death of Frank Paul, a Native man who was dumped in an alley by police officers in Vancouver, British Columbia.
William H. Davies was a judge for the B.C. Supreme Court and the Supreme Court of the Northwest Territories. He was appointed to the Frank Paul inquiry by the B.C. Solicitor General.
Paul, a Mi'kmaq from the Big Cove First Nation in New Brunswick, died in December 1998. After being arrested for public drunkenness, police left him in an alley on a cold, rainy night.
In 2004, the B.C. Solicitor General conducted a review of the case but said there was no information that could lead to criminal charges. The driver of the police van was suspended for a day.
But with new allegations surfacing, the current B.C. Solicitor General said an inquiry was warranted. The Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs have been calling for an independent investigation.
Get the Story:Former judge appointed commissioner in Frank Paul inquiry (CBC 3/9) Relevant Documents:
Frank Joseph Paul: REASONS FOR DECISION (January 20, 2004) Relevant Links:
Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs - http://www.ubcic.bc.ca Related Stories:
Inquiry called into Native man's police-related death (2/23)
First Nations seek inquiry into police-related death (2/21)
Police won't face charges for dumping Native man (06/21)
Native man's death in B.C. getting another review (03/26)
B.C. First Nations demand inquiry into man's death (3/22)
B.C. inquiry rejected into death of Native man (3/19)
B.C. police reopen probe into death of Native man (06/25)
Native family wants inquiry into son's death (06/09)
B.C. official under fire for Native remarks (04/09)
