First phase of Taser inquiry finished

The first phase of the Braidwood Inquiry on Taser use heard from its last presenters Friday.

The inquiry, which was called following the death of Robert Dziekanski after he was shot by a Taser at Vancouver International Airport last fall, began on May 5.

A Vancouver epidemiologist told the inquiry Friday thatthe safety of the stun guns cannot be determined based on any studies to date.

Dr. Keith Chambers, an expert in clinical trials, said proper studies have not been done and people should be asking questions.

"I think they should ask how large, how many people are in your studies, [and] are they big enough to detect what you want to detect," Chambers said. "Are they being done on people in the real world and is there any kind of large independent database that is collecting this kind of data so we can find out."

Because the focus of the studies that have been done is on sudden death, Chambers said, the possibility of serious injuries may be overlooked.

However, Murray Mollard, the executive director of the B.C. Civil Liberties Association, told the inquiryTasers should be banned altogether.

"If Mr. Dziekanski's death hadn't been captured on video then we wouldn't be here today. Mr. Braidwood wouldn't be here today as the commissioner of this inquiry," Mollard said.

This first phase of the inquiry has focused on Taser use, as well as deaths and injuries associated with the weapon. Taser victims, police, and medical experts on the use of the stun gun have testified.

Numerous medical experts expressed concerns about the risks, while police officers testified Tasers save lives.

The second phase of the inquiry, which will focus on Dziekanski's death, will not begin until all police investigations are complete and any possible charges are dealt with in court.