Ian Bailey
Vancouver — Published on Thursday, Jul. 16, 2009 5:17PM EDT Last updated on Wednesday, Jul. 22, 2009 11:58PM EDT
The government lawyer who tearfully admitted to an error that has delayed the Braidwood inquiry into Robert Dziekanski's death has resigned from handling the file.
Helen Roberts has been replaced by another lawyer within the federal justice department.
Commission lawyer Art Vertlieb Thursday confirmed Ms. Roberts's departure from the Braidwood process, noting it was reported to him in a recent letter. He said he had no information to explain exactly why she has quit.
He said it will not affect the timetable for the inquiry, which is set to resume in September to figure out how to proceed in light of the unexpected developments that occurred last month.
The inquiry is looking into the death of Polish immigrant Robert Dziekanski, who died on Oct. 14, 2007 following a confrontation with four Mounties at Vancouver International Airport. The officers used a taser on Mr. Dziekanski, prompting a continuing debate about police use of such weapons.
Don Rosenbloom, a lawyer representing the Polish government during the inquiry, said Ms. Roberts decision came as no surprise.
“It's been a difficult situation for Ms. Roberts. I respect the decision she has made,” he said.
There was no immediate comment from the federal justice department.
Last month, Ms. Roberts apologized after disclosures that federal lawyers overlooked a bombshell e-mail between two senior Mounties among thousands of pages of documents they received from the RCMP on CD-ROMs.
The e-mail sent from RCMP Chief Superintendent Dick Bent to assistant commissioner Al McIntyre suggests another officer, Superintendent Waye Rideout in charge then of the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team investigating Mr. Dziekanski's death, had mentioned the four Mounties involved in a confrontation with Mr. Dziekanski went into the situation prepared to use a taser on him. Such a scenario would be at odds with the testimony from the four officers to the inquiry.
All of these officers plus the four Mounties will likely have to be recalled to give further testimony when the inquiry resumes.
Thomas Braidwood, head of the inquiry, said he was “appalled” by the situation.
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