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Wednesday, April 22, 2009
BCCLA: Over 600 days of inaction since Boyd shooting by Vancouver police
619 days have passed since animator Paul Boyd was shot by members of the Vancouver Police Department (VPD), and an investigation by the British Columbia Civil Liberties Association (BCCLA) reveals that no decisions have been made on criminal charges, or whether or not to hold a coroner’s inquest. In addition, the VPD professional standards investigation has not begun.
According to the BCCLA, the VPD took a year to investigate the August 2007 shooting and provide a report to the Criminal Justice Branch (CJB) in August 2008. Now, the CJB has taken 270 days more and still not decided whether or not to lay criminal charges.
"Investigations into police-involved deaths need to be timely.” says Robert Holmes, President of the BCCLA. “Why should it take more than 600 days to decide whether to lay charges and have a public hearing? In British Columbia, police-involved death cases drag on as the ball gets dropped from one agency to another. The Attorney General should commit to reform it all.”
The family of Mr. Boyd tells the BCCLA that they support prompt action and the BCCLA’s call for reform.
"The family and friends of Mr. Boyd and the citizens of Vancouver have a right to know what happened and who is responsible,” said Holmes. “The officers involved need to know if their conduct was legally appropriate and to move on or be held accountable. There is no need for this kind of delay.”
Posted by Matthew Johnston
Posted by westernstandard on April 22, 2009 | Permalink
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