[IPSM] CBC Winnipeg: Native leaders demand inquiry into shooting

[Stefan Christoff]

CBC Winnipeg: Native leaders demand inquiry into shooting
{http://winnipeg.cbc.ca/regionalnews/caches/mb_norway-house-20050106.html}

WINNIPEG - Top aboriginal leaders in Manitoba are demanding a public
inquiry into the shooting death of a man from Norway House earlier this
week.

Dennis St. Paul was finishing his shift as a dishwasher at a local
restaurant on Monday when an RCMP constable tried to arrest him for parole
violations. RCMP say the two men struggled after a foot chase, and two
shots were fired. St. Paul died later in hospital.

As more details of the shooting surface, aboriginal leaders say they raise
disturbing questions.

Norway House Chief Ron Evans wants to know why police would shoot an
unarmed man, especially since St. Paul couldn't run very fast due to a
mild disability. Evans also questions how many shots were fired during the
incident. Police say two, but Evans says witnesses saw three bullet
wounds.

Evans worries the RCMP may not disclose what really happened, and his
suspicions were heightened when he heard the constable's partner is
working on the investigation into the incident.

"How can we feel that it's been fair and just, because they've been
investigating themselves," he says.

RCMP will provide little information about Evan's concerns. They say the
specifics are part of their internal investigation, but they say the
constable didn't have a "partner" as such, and was working alone the day
of the shooting.

The RCMP has promised to give the family and band officials as much
information as they can.

Dennis White Bird, head of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs, says a public
inquiry is needed.

"We now have a deceased who was the father of three children, who had a
wife . now he will no longer support his family because the RCMP have
taken his life away," says White Bird.

Acting attorney general Dave Chomiak says the province will have an
independent Crown attorney working with the RCMP on its investigation. The
province will also ask an outside police force to review the case.

Provincial officials say they won't make any decisions about a public
inquiry until all the current investigations are complete.

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