November 21, 2000

Anthany Dawson Inquest

Da Vinci Centre

195 Bay Street,

Victoria, B.C.

(Tehaliwaskenhas - Bob Kennedy with notes from Debra Bell and Fern York)

Colin Dales said he saw Anthany Dawson and he saw the police officer. He saw a struggle. He testified the policeman put Anthany into a headlock, flipped him over and he also believes the policeman punched Anthany. But under cross questioning it appeared as though in fact he had not seen the actual punch. Coroner’s counsel John Orr asked Mr. Dales if he actually saw the officer make contact with Anthany - he said no, but that he just knew that the officer hit him twice.

Although today’s seven witnesses didn’t provide testimony that was as powerful and certain as yesterday’s revelations of alleged police brutality … the Dawson family seems to be somewhat comforted that the evidence is now starting to show some balance.

Until this week’s focus on the actions of police, much of the testimony had been medical in nature and it seemed to only suggest that Anthany may have died because of a medical condition and perhaps even his own behaviour leading up to the incident prior to death.

In fact it seemed that drugs, alcohol and lifestyle were being trumpeted as the culprits in Anthany’s demise and that authorities were ‘squeaky clean’ in their treatment of him, in hospital and at the scene.

But this week’s testimony from four witnesses Monday and another today, has shifted the focus and changed the tone and air of the inquest.

Anthany Dawson’s mother Nancy, aunt Yvon and Carol, and friends heard testimony from witnesses who were at the scene on August 11, 1999 at Oak Bay and Bank Street where Anthany was ‘assisted’ into an ambulance by the Victoria City Police.

What’s known for sure is that Anthany James Dawson, a 29-year old Native man was in need of medical attention as he tried so desperately to demonstrate on that fatal day. Witnesses informed the inquest that the moans emitted by Anthany indicated desperation and pain.

A policeman, who had been driving a motorcycle dismounted and walked toward Anthany who had been lying on the road, neither moving nor making any aggressive gestures. One witness testified that the policeman, without any back-up police with him at the time, immediately punched Anthany with two successive blows followed by a rapid headlock. Anthany was flipped at 180 degree angle and ‘taken down’ by the weight of the policeman. This was followed by two more punches by the policeman to Anthany’s chin and neck area.

Witnesses testified that at no point did Anthany ever become aggressive to the policeman, rather he appeared to be defending himself from the policeman’s actions which according to at least one witness was "uncalled for".

Witnesses like Roy Hodges have testified about Anthany’s shouts, screams and moans. They described pain and anguish … sounds they had never heard from a person before. Witness Robert Arsenault said he was amazed … that it startled him how Anthany’s scream was constant and only stopped when Anthany took a breath.

Despite the pain of hearing what happened to her son, Nancy Dawson hopes to hear all about the actions leading to her son’s death during this inquest --- it’s a way of perhaps helping her ‘accept’ her son’s death.

She has said often she also hopes that the inquest will help ensure that no other person or family would ever have to experience such pain and loss – that no young person of minority race should ever again have to experience what Anthany did.

It’s important to note that no-one has described Anthanys actions as ‘being deliberately threatening or violent or aggressive, only that he was trying to get away, protect himself, or deal with whatever pain he was suffering.

It is clear he definitely required medical attention. It is hoped that this inquest will provide an arena in which to make meaningful and effective recommendations to ensure that all people are treated equally and that no stereo-type assumptions are to be made again.

Based on the testimony from a geneticist, Anthany was predisposed to a genetic disorder that could trigger seizures and tremendous pain. He was not just another drunk, stoned Indian as the ‘system’ seemed to suggest at the outset.

Nancy says she "continues to hope that justice will prevail".

She is not alone in this --- on this day the Dawson family is surrounded by Aboriginal community concern, and by Aboriginal community support. In the room were representatives from the Victoria Native Friendship Centre, B.C. Association of Friendship Centres, Capital Region Race Relations Coalition.