Court quashes inquiry into VPD mistaken ID beating
Posted January 29, 2012 6:31 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – The BC Supreme Court has decided there will not be a public inquiry into the police beating of a Vancouver man two years ago.
Yao Wei Wu was badly injured by two officers shortly after answering his door. The Vancouver Police Department (VPD) later acknowledged it was a case of mistaken identity.
The Police Complaint Commissioner called for a hearing when the two VPD officers were cleared after an initial investigation, saying there were flaws in the investigation, but the BC Supreme Court has ruled the commissioner overstepped his boundaries.
Kevin Woodall, the lawyer who represents the officers, says according to the Police Act the commissioner should have taken another avenue instead of calling for an inquiry.
“That provision would have called for a retired judge to examine the file and review the decision to exonerate the police officers, but the Police Complaint Commissioner chose not to go that route and instead call a public inquiry,” he says.
“In a broader sense it confirms that the Police Complaint Commissioner has to follow the Act, just like everyone else has to follow the Act.”
Wu suffered extensive facial injuries after the two officers mistook him for a suspect. He is still pursuing civil action against them.