Davies Commission Inquiry
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[edit]
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)[edit]
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)[edit]
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[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ "Members of the Supreme Court of British Columbia". The Courts of British Columbia. nd. Retrieved February 15, 2018.
- ^ "50- and 60-Year Certificates" (PDF). Benchers' Bulletin. BC. Law Society. Fall 2016. Retrieved February 15, 2018.
- ^ "William H. Davies". The Province. Obituary. Vancouver, BC. June 10, 2017. Retrieved February 15, 2018.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Justice system failed Frank Paul, left to die of hypothermia: report". CBC News. March 12, 2009. Retrieved February 15, 2018.
- ^ "Crown erred in Frank Paul case: lawyer". CBC News. November 4, 2010. Retrieved February 15, 2018.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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
- ^ "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.
- ^ "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.