Polish representative to attend next phase of Taser inquiry

The Polish government will be represented in the next phase of the inquiry into the death of Robert Dziekanski, who died at Vancouver airport after being hit with a police stun gun.

The second phase of the Braidwood Inquiry will begin on Oct. 20 in Vancouver, a little more than a year after Dziekanski, 40, died.

Inquiry lawyer Art Vertlieb said Tuesday the government of Poland has asked to have a representative at the inquiry.

Vertlieb said the inquiry will look at events leading up to the death, the incident itself and actions taken afterwards.

Members of the public who want to participate in the inquiry, headed by retired B.C. Appeal Court justice Thomas Braidwood, can submit their applications before Sept. 8.

Braidwood heard from dozens of people in the first phase on the inquiry looking into Taser use and is expected to release his report on that phase to the B.C. government by October.

B.C. Attorney General Wally Oppal appointed Braidwood in February to head the two-phase inquiry, which was called following Dziekanski's death on Oct. 14, 2007.

Dziekanski, who spoke limited English, had wandered the airport for hours and became agitated after a series of communications breakdowns kept him a secure area controlled by the Canada Border Services Agency.