Family of stun gun victim bracing for June inquiry

January 18, 2007
By CARY CASTAGNA, EDMONTON SUN

Relatives of an Edmonton man who died Christmas Eve 2005 after getting zapped with a police stun gun say this past Christmas was extremely difficult. “Very tough, very tough,” Antoniette Fiacco, heartbroken mother of Alesandro Fiacco, told the Sun yesterday.

Now the family is bracing for an extremely difficult summer. A public inquiry under the Fatality Inquiries Act is tentatively slated to begin June 18. But that date is subject to change as lawyers are asking for the inquiry to be extended from five to 10 days.

Provincial court Judge Fred Day will act as commissioner of the inquiry, which seeks to establish the facts of the cop-related death, including the circumstances and cause.

A long list of witnesses is expected to be called to testify, including as many as eight police officers, two paramedics and at least six civilians.

The inquiry will not seek to assign responsibility or guilt for Alesandro’s death, Day said.

Following the inquiry, Day will write a report that may include recommendations on how to avoid a similar incident in the future.

Cops zapped Alesandro four times with a stun gun Dec. 24, 2005, after responding to a disturbance near the intersection of 113 Street and 76 Avenue. Police said several attempts were made to bring the unarmed and erratic 33-year-old under control. A medical examiner later concluded Alesandro died of a cocaine overdose and not because he was shocked by cops.

Last March, cops tightened up policies around stun gun use, making officers who use them more accountable.

The Fiacco family has said they want to ensure cops are adequately trained to recognize when a person needs help.