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Davies Commission Inquiry

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The Davies Commission Inquiry or Davies Commission Inquiry into the Death of Frank Paul (2007 - 2011) was an inquiry under Commissioner William H. Davies QC, a retired Justice of the Supreme Court of British Columbia (BCSC), Canada. The final report was submitted in May 2011.

Context

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Davies, who had served on the Supreme Court of British Columbia (BCSC) from 1982 until his retirement in 1999,[1][2][3] was called from his retirement to act as Commissioner of the Davies Commission Inquiry in 2007.

The Inquiry focused on the 1998 death by hypothermia of Frank Paul, a homeless Mi'kmaq man originally from Elsipogtog First Nation, /ɛlzɪˈbʊktʊk/ New Brunswick.[4]: ii  According to the report, Paul died of hypothermia in an alley in east side Vancouver where he had been released by Vancouver police.[5]

Interim Report (2009)

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In his 446-page report, which was published on February 12, 2009,[4] Justice Davies was "harshly critical" of the actions of Vancouver Police Department (VPD) in relation to Paul's death.[6]

Alone and Cold (2011)

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In his May 2011 report, "Alone and Cold: Criminal Justice Branch Response",[7] he questioned the decision "on the part of the crown prosecutors to not proceed with criminal charges against Sergeant Sanderson and Constable Instant in the death of Frank Paul."[8] Davies "ruled that the B.C.’s Criminal Justice Branch needed an overhaul to its conflict-of-interest policies that were brought up during the inquiry"[9] The Inquiry "resulted in the recommendation to establish the Independent Investigations Office which investigates officer-related incidents of death or serious harm in BC."[10]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Members of the Supreme Court of British Columbia". The Courts of British Columbia. nd. Retrieved February 15, 2018.
  2. ^ "50- and 60-Year Certificates" (PDF). Benchers' Bulletin. BC. Law Society. Fall 2016. Retrieved February 15, 2018.
  3. ^ "William H. Davies". The Province. Obituary. Vancouver, BC. June 10, 2017. Retrieved February 15, 2018.
  4. ^ a b Alone and Cold: the Davies Commission Inquiry into the Death of Frank Paul (PDF) (Report). Interim Report. Victoria, BC. February 12, 2009. p. 440. ISBN 978-0-7726-6065-7. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 3, 2019. Retrieved February 15, 2018.
  5. ^ "Justice system failed Frank Paul, left to die of hypothermia: report". CBC News. March 12, 2009. Retrieved February 15, 2018.
  6. ^ "Crown erred in Frank Paul case: lawyer". CBC News. November 4, 2010. Retrieved February 15, 2018.
  7. ^ Davies, William H. (May 19, 2011). Alone and Cold: Criminal Justice Branch Response (PDF) (Report). p. 191. ISBN 978-0-7726-6379-5. Retrieved February 15, 2018.
  8. ^ Razack, Sherene (May 13, 2015). Dying from Improvement: Inquests and Inquiries into Indigenous Deaths in Custody. University of Toronto Press, Scholarly Publishing Division. p. 328. ISBN 9781442628915. In References and Footnotes section
  9. ^ "Justice William H. Davies Passes In Chilliwack – The Judge Involved In The Frank Paul Inquiry". Fraser Valley News. June 10, 2017. Retrieved February 15, 2018.
  10. ^ "The Honourable Mr. Justice William H. Davies, Q. C. June 2, 1931 - June 3, 2017". The Globe and Mail. June 10, 2017. Retrieved February 15, 2018.