Taser fatality inquiry set for December

May 14 2008
Dan Singleton, For The Calgary Herald

A fatality inquiry looking into the death of a 28-year-old Red Deer man who died after being Tasered by police in August 2006 will take place over eight days in December.

Jason Doan was breaking vehicle windows at a Red Deer park when he was chased by RCMP officers and shocked with a Taser, police said.

Doan died three weeks later of heart failure.

"The family wants some truth and some honesty and to know what happened," said the Doan family's lawyer, Will Willier. "We will be making our submissions on the recommendations for how we think things can be prevented in the future in similar circumstances."

The inquiry before Judge Monica Bast will take place in Red Deer provincial court Dec. 8 to 11 and Dec. 15 to 19. The judge can make recommendations but cannot assign blame.

Sixteen witnesses are expected to be called, including the sister of the deceased, Surya Doan, as well as medical personnel and an expert on Tasers.

The family has not filed a lawsuit in the case, Willier said.