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.

Jeffrey Michael Berg, 37, died on October 24, 2000 of injuries inflicted by VPD Cst. David Bruce-Thomas during the course of an arrest on Sunday, October 22, 2000.