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
editDavies, 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)
editIn 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)
editIn 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
editReferences
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.