RCMP Watch

Vancouver, B.C. (Canadian Press) - A spokeswoman for Amnesty International Canada says she’s troubled by the sharp contrast in police statements about why a man was shot by a Taser and later died, compared with what’s seen in a video recording viewed around the world.Hilary Homes says the two stories surrounding the death of Robert Dziekanski don’t match, requiring a thorough investigation by an independent body.

Amnesty International Canada released a report in May about the inappropriate and excessive use of tasers in this country.

Ms. Homes says 17 Canadians have been killed by the lethal force of a Taser, which jolts the body with 50,000 volts and is often used to subdue people deemed dangerous to police, themselves or others.

But she says the video clearly shows the Polish immigrant who arrived at Vancouver international Airport on Oct. 14 wasn’t a threat to anybody and the footage doesn’t show Mounties trying to restrain him as police later claimed.

She says the incident leaves a lot of questions about decisions made by the RCMP before four Mounties arrived in the secure area of the airport’s international arrivals terminal, where an agitated Mr. Dziekanski appeared to be barricading himself.

An RCMP spokesman was not available for comment.