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Officer's Lawyer Claims Victim's Aggression Led to 2015 Death
13 Oct
Summary
- Lawyer claims Myles Gray met aggression, leading to officer's force.
- Inquiry examines if officers intentionally or recklessly used unnecessary force.
- 2023 inquest ruled Gray's death a homicide with severe injuries.
A lawyer representing a Vancouver police officer claims the victim, Myles Gray, initiated an aggressive encounter in the 2015 arrest that led to his death. Lawyer Mike Shirreff stated Const. Eric Birzneck used force only when anticipating an assault, attributing the fatal outcome to Gray's actions.
The Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner is currently holding a hearing to investigate whether seven officers involved intentionally or recklessly employed unnecessary force. This marks the first time some officers, including Birzneck, are providing testimony regarding the altercation.
Previous disciplinary processes found no officer misconduct, and no charges were laid. However, a coroner's inquest in 2023 classified Gray's death as a homicide. The inquest revealed Gray sustained significant injuries, including a fractured eye socket and crushed voice box.
