British Colombia Promises Probe of Taser Death

20 November 2007 -- The Canadian province of British Colombia says it will launch a public investigation into the killing of a Polish immigrant shot by a Taser stun gun at Vancouver's airport.

The government said Monday the probe would look at Robert Dziekanski's death, and the use of Taser guns by police.

Taser guns disable people through the use of high voltage electricity.

Video released last week showed police using stun guns on Dziekanski 46 seconds after they confronted him in a baggage retrieval area. He died at the airport.

Witnesses said the Polish immigrant seemed to be disturbed. He had been waiting in the airport for 10 hours for his mother who was supposed to pick him up. He spoke only Polish and was apparently unaware that non-passengers were barred from the baggage area where he was waiting for his mother to meet him.

The video of the incident showed Dziekanski speaking to himself in Polish, and throwing a computer before police surrounded him and fired the stun guns.

The Polish government sent a diplomatic note to Canada expressing its concern over the incident.

The commissioner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police said last week four separate groups are investigating the man's death.

Source: VOA News

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