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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Canadian stun gun death on video | Canadian stun gun death on video |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Video footage has been released in Canada showing the last moments of an immigrant who died after being stunned with a Taser by police. | Video footage has been released in Canada showing the last moments of an immigrant who died after being stunned with a Taser by police. |
| Robert Dziekanski, 40, of Pieszyce, Poland, was restrained by police after becoming agitated at Vancouver International Airport on 14 October. | Robert Dziekanski, 40, of Pieszyce, Poland, was restrained by police after becoming agitated at Vancouver International Airport on 14 October. |
| Mr Dziekanski, who spoke no English, was declared dead at the scene by an emergency medical team. | Mr Dziekanski, who spoke no English, was declared dead at the scene by an emergency medical team. |
| The incident is being investigated by police, the airport and the coroner. | The incident is being investigated by police, the airport and the coroner. |
| See how a Taser works | See how a Taser works |
| Police spokesman Cpl Dale Carr said the video was just one piece of evidence, and urged people to wait for the results of the inquest. | Police spokesman Cpl Dale Carr said the video was just one piece of evidence, and urged people to wait for the results of the inquest. |
| Mr Dziekanski, a construction worker, was emigrating to Canada to join his mother, who lived in the western province of British Colombia. | Mr Dziekanski, a construction worker, was emigrating to Canada to join his mother, who lived in the western province of British Colombia. |
| The incident has prompted a debate about police use of Taser stun guns by police in Canada. | The incident has prompted a debate about police use of Taser stun guns by police in Canada. |
| The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation says up to 18 people have died after being stunned by a Taser in Canada since 2003. | The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation says up to 18 people have died after being stunned by a Taser in Canada since 2003. |
| Screams | Screams |
| The video was shot by a 15-year-old Canadian traveller and handed over to police, and has only just been returned to the teenager, Paul Pritchard. | The video was shot by a 15-year-old Canadian traveller and handed over to police, and has only just been returned to the teenager, Paul Pritchard. |
| It starts before the police arrive, with Mr Dziekanski seen through a glass wall in a customs area. He appears agitated, sweating and breathing heavily. Airport security officials and passengers watch from the other side. | |
| Mr Dziekanski was agitated and sweating. Credit: CBC | Mr Dziekanski was agitated and sweating. Credit: CBC |
| Having landed 10 hours earlier, he is seen pacing back and forth through an automatic door, standing briefly in the doorway with a small folding table, and then later with a chair. | Having landed 10 hours earlier, he is seen pacing back and forth through an automatic door, standing briefly in the doorway with a small folding table, and then later with a chair. |
| At one point, he takes what looks like a laptop computer off a counter and throws it to the ground, and then throws the small table against the glass wall. | At one point, he takes what looks like a laptop computer off a counter and throws it to the ground, and then throws the small table against the glass wall. |
| Four policemen then walk into view. They walk through the glass doors towards Mr Dziekanski, who turns his back on them. Witnesses say he appeared to pick up a stapler. | Four policemen then walk into view. They walk through the glass doors towards Mr Dziekanski, who turns his back on them. Witnesses say he appeared to pick up a stapler. |
| Seconds later, Mr Dziekanski is stunned by a Taser and falls down screaming and convulsing. | Seconds later, Mr Dziekanski is stunned by a Taser and falls down screaming and convulsing. |
| He is stunned a second time again, and then the police officers restrain him on the floor. Mr Dziekanski's screams die down, and he is seen lying still. | He is stunned a second time again, and then the police officers restrain him on the floor. Mr Dziekanski's screams die down, and he is seen lying still. |
| A voice is heard saying "code red", which is code for a medical emergency. | A voice is heard saying "code red", which is code for a medical emergency. |
| An autopsy found no sign of drugs or alcohol in Mr Dziekanski's system, and failed to pinpoint the cause of death. | An autopsy found no sign of drugs or alcohol in Mr Dziekanski's system, and failed to pinpoint the cause of death. |
| Airport mix-up | Airport mix-up |
| Walter Kosteckyj, the victim's family lawyer, said Mr Dziekanski's mother had seen portions of the video and had approved its release to the public. | Walter Kosteckyj, the victim's family lawyer, said Mr Dziekanski's mother had seen portions of the video and had approved its release to the public. |
| "She had a son in distress, he was looking for help, he was frightened, and he didn't get that help," Mr Kosteckyj said. | "She had a son in distress, he was looking for help, he was frightened, and he didn't get that help," Mr Kosteckyj said. |
| He said he was disturbed by the video because Mr Dziekanski was not violent. | He said he was disturbed by the video because Mr Dziekanski was not violent. |
| "I was expecting to see a confrontation, a discussion and things go sideways, then the tasering... That's not what you see," he said. | "I was expecting to see a confrontation, a discussion and things go sideways, then the tasering... That's not what you see," he said. |
| Mr Dziekanski was coming to Canada to be with his mother, Zofia | Mr Dziekanski was coming to Canada to be with his mother, Zofia |
| Mr Dziekanski had boarded a plane for the first time a day earlier in Germany, and the pair had arranged to meet at the baggage carousel in the international terminal. | Mr Dziekanski had boarded a plane for the first time a day earlier in Germany, and the pair had arranged to meet at the baggage carousel in the international terminal. |
| Neither of them knew the baggage carousel was inside a secure area, with no view of the public arrivals hall area, except for a short distance through sliding glass doors, Mr Kosteckyj said. | Neither of them knew the baggage carousel was inside a secure area, with no view of the public arrivals hall area, except for a short distance through sliding glass doors, Mr Kosteckyj said. |
| No airport, customs or security employees at the airport apparently tried to help either of them, he added. | No airport, customs or security employees at the airport apparently tried to help either of them, he added. |
| Eventually Mr Dziekanski emerged into the public area, but his mother had left after six hours and Mr Dziekanski apparently panicked, the lawyer said. | Eventually Mr Dziekanski emerged into the public area, but his mother had left after six hours and Mr Dziekanski apparently panicked, the lawyer said. |
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