Lawyer Argues That the Taser Gun Did Not Cause Death

One of the marketing features of the Taser stun gun is that it is a non-lethal weapon. In the inquiry of the death of Robert Dziekanski, the legal counsel for the Taser manufacturer is maintaining that the shocks administered did not cause death:

“… David Neave, in his final submission to an inquiry into Dziekanski’s death at Vancouver International Airport, said Dziekanski suffered from stress, fatigue and alcohol withdrawal — and would have died whether he was Tasered five times or not.

“We say it is time this uninformed speculation about the role the Taser device may have had in this case be dispelled, and the attack on Taser’s reputation end,” Neave said.”

link: Taser not responsible for airport death, lawyer argues

additional link:  Taser didn’t kill Robert Dziekanski, company tells inquiry

additional link:  Alcohol killed Robert Dziekanski. Seriously. Quit laughing.

It is Mr Neave’s contention that the death and the administration of at least five shocks were a mere unfortunate coincidence. Mr Neave seems to discount the expert testimony of Dr. Zian Tseng, a cardiac electrophysiologist at the University of California. Dr Tseng testified that Robert Dziekanski “would not have died if he hadn’t been jolted by a Taser“.

Apparently Mr Neave is not about to let expert medical testimony or the numerous deaths associated with stun gun shocks stand in the way of how he would like the inquiry to conclude cause of death.

Catherine Forsythe