Dziekanski confused and scared, interpreter testifies

A Polish translator testifying at the inquiry into the death of Robert Dziekanski last year said Dziekanski told onlookers to leave him alone and was tossing furniture in a waiting area at Vancouver International Airport just before he died.

Kris Barski testified that Robert Dziekanski demanded to know how long he would have to wait at the airport just minutes before he was confronted by the RCMP and stunned with a Taser.

The Braidwood Inquiry heard a translation Monday of the man's last words, in Polish, captured on a bystander's video.

In the video, Dziekanski alternated between swearing, asking to be left alone, threatening to trash the area around him and, immediately before he was stunned, appeared to ask the officers if they've gone out of their minds, Barski testified.

"I will trash this office," Dziekanski said in Polish.

Onlookers shouted out to Dziekanski, asking him what was wrong and what language he spoke. One bystander guessed he was Russian.

Their efforts were lost on Dziekanski, who didn't speak English.

"Leave me alone everybody," he said later. "Go away, I said."

Seconds later, four RCMP officers rush into view, prompting Dziekanski to shout, "Police! Police!"

One of the officers was heard asking whether he can use a Taser, and another officer approached Dziekanski and asked how he was doing.

"Leave me alone, leave me alone," Dziekanski said as the officers walk toward him.

Dziekanski's next words translated literally to: "Did you become stupid? Why?"

Barski testified that could also be translated to ‘"Are you out of your mind? Why?"'

Dziekanski was then hit by the RCMP Taser and although it was not obvious on the video, the Crown later revealed he was shocked five times.

As Dziekanski thrashed on the floor, he was heard saying, ‘"Police, police."’

Barski testified that anything Dziekanski may have said during the remainder of the video is indecipherable. When questioned about Dziekanski's demeanour during the video, Barski said he thought he appeared confused and scared.

But a lawyer representing the RCMP objected to Barski’s characterization, suggesting Dziekanski’s throwing a computer on the floor and smashing a table indicated aggression.

Ravi Hira, a lawyer for one of the officers, said the video appears to show Dziekanski picking up a stapler — an action cited by Crown prosecutors when they announced they wouldn't be charging the four officers involved.

The inquiry also saw airport surveillance footage that showed that after Dziekanski was stunned, which occurred out of the video frame, two police officers left the scene separately and each returned a short time later.

That footage may bolster claims by the officers' lawyers that they were following orders to gather evidence instead of helping the man as he lay on the floor.

The decision by the officers to keep Dziekanski handcuffed on the floor until firefighters and paramedics arrived has come under fire at the inquiry.

Dziekanski's mother, Zofia Cisowski, was in the courtroom to see the video played twice.