Local lesson in taser death - lawyer

The death of a Polish national by taser gun at Vancouver Airport should be a wake-up call for all New Zealanders, a leading Auckland lawyer says.
Hear Auckland lawyer Marie Dyhrberg's taser warning

Video footage of an unarmed Robert Dziekanski, 40, of Pieszyce, shows him collapsing to the ground in pain and dying after being tasered by Canadian police at the airport last month.

A construction worker, Mr Dziekanski spoke no English but a Polish YouTube blogger has translated his pleas to police.

"I want to get out, help me find the way...Police! Police! Can't you help me?"

His desperate plea is followed by harrowing shrieking as he is hit by at least two 50,000-volt blasts.

Dziekanski was reported to be emmigrating to Canada and had arranged to meet his mother at the luggage collection area. When he was unable to find her after 10 hours, he became agitated, threw a small table at a window and started yelling at airport staff.

By the time police arrived he had calmed down and was standing still.

Auckland lawyer Marie Dyhrberg said the video clearly demonstrated the concerns she and others had about the possible introduction of taser guns to New Zealand.

"This is over the mark," she said.

"Was the situation such a serious threat to property and a person that he had to be tasered?"

New Zealand police were expected to decide before Christmas whether to introduce 500-volt taser stun guns. However, even if approved, it is unlikely every frontline officer will get one.

Ms Drhrberg said that decision should be halted and further public consultation held.

"There is a huge lesson that can be learnt here," she said.

Opponents of taser guns had always feared they would be used to enforce compliance, when they should only be used when there was a serious threat to the public, Ms Dyhrberg said.

"The taser is not a gentle option."

Apart from the direct harm taser guns could cause, they rendered victims incapable of protecting themselves from being hurt in other ways, she said.

"You are totally prevented from putting your hands out, even to stop yourself from failing down a flight of stairs."

Dziekanski is the 18th person to die after being stunned by tasers in Canada since 2003.

- © Fairfax NZ News