Canadian police condemned for graphic Taser death

By David Ljunggren

OTTAWA (Reuters) - The Royal Canadian Mounted Police were widely condemned on Friday for using stun guns on an unarmed Polish man who collapsed and died in an incident that was shown around the world in a graphic 10-minute video.

The footage of Robert Dziekanski howling in agony after he was hit by 50,000-volt Taser blasts at Vancouver International Airport is another blow to Canada's famed Mounties, who have been shaken by a number of recent scandals.

The Globe and Mail, Canada's most influential newspaper, ran a savage editorial on what it called "the summary execution of an innocent man" whose only crime was being confused.

"The Taser death video that was being broadcast around the world yesterday is a source of shame and disgrace for Canada and for its national police force," the newspaper said.

Dziekanski, who flew to Canada to live with his mother in the Pacific province of British Columbia, mistakenly waited for her in the baggage area rather than passing through the customs section to enter the main part of Vancouver's airport.

After several hours he became frustrated and threw a small table at a window. He was standing still when police arrived and fired at him almost immediately.

The Toronto Star said the quick use of a weapon designed only to be fired as last resort raised very troubling questions. The right-of-center National Post, usually a strong backer of law enforcement bodies, also condemned the Mounties.

"The appearance of poor practice here is so strong that the RCMP may face a tough decision whether to defend their members' actions or to deny that they are, in fact, routine operating procedure," it said.