Berg Inquest adjourned to August 9, 2004

'Problem' solved, Berg inquest hears further witness testimony

August 2004

July 2004

June 2004

May 2004

March 2004

February 2004

January 2004

December 2003

November 2003

October 2003

September 2003

July 2003

June 2003

The Coroner's Inquest into the death of Jeff Berg has been adjourned to Monday, August 9, 2004. The Inquest is expected to resume at 9:00 a.m. that day with the continuation of the testimony of forensic pathologist Dr. Laurel Gray.

Dr. Gray attributed the cause of death to a "Traumatic Aneurysm Left Carotid Artery and Sequelae due to or as a consequence of A Blow to the Left Side of the Neck". She found "deep bruising left side of neck, traumatic aneurysm intracranial left carotid artery, cardiac arrest, deep bruise right side of head, cerebral edema, facial abrasions primarily right side and bruised right testicle". Jeff Berg had no contributory prior medical history and did not have alcohol or drugs in his sytem when he was killed.

Earlier in the Inquest, civilian witness Sari Fujikawa testified: "The officer, still yelling, walked toward the man until he was standing behind him. The officer knocked the man down to the ground with the gun in his right hand. The man still did not move, but only lay on his right side, his back toward the officer. As soon as he was down, the officer kicked the man in the back of the head brutally two times with his right foot. I felt sick, numb, shocked, angry at the same time. The man had not run away from the officer. As soon as he was down, the officer kicked the man in the back of the head brutally two times with his right foot."

The Coroner's Inquest is being held in Coroner's Court, MetroTower II, 20th floor (2035-4720 Kingsway, Burnaby, British Columbia) and typically gets under way at 9:00 a.m. each weekday.

After a hearing arguments in a hearing that was subjected to a publication ban, Coroner Jeannine Robinson indicated that she would not discharge the jury investigating the death of Jeff Berg. David Wu, a civilian eyewitness, took the stand and testified with the assistance of an interpreter. He said he saw a police officer kicking a young man several times while the man was handcuffed and lying motionless in the alley behind Wu's house.

In another development, the Coroner ruled that she would not direct that the Berg family receive reimbursement foir its legal costs, nor would she write to Attorney General Plant to recommend public funding. Berg family lawyer Cameron Ward had sought funding assistance on the basis of fairness. The Coroner, Coroner's counsel, the lawyers for the police witnesses, the lawyer for the Vancouver Police Department and the expert witnesses are all paid from the public purse. The Berg family's legal bill is approaching $90,000.

The inquest continues on Monday, July 5, 2004 with the conclusion of David Wu's testimony. David Bruce-Thomas, the police constable who arrested Jeff Berg, is scheduled to take the witness stand after that.

The coroner's inquest is being held in Coroner's Court, MetroTower II, 20th floor (2035-4720 Kingsway, Burnaby, British Columbia) and typically gets under way at 9:00 a.m. each weekday.

more>>