The reopening of the shooting death of Paul Boyd

[wilde]

Video sparks new probes in fatal B.C. police shooting
Alberta police also will conduct review of new evidence in Paul Boyd death
CBC News
Posted: May 29, 2012 11:49 AM PT
Last Updated: May 30, 2012 8:21 AM PT

The BC Coroners Service has announced it will review its investigation and inquest into the 2007 death of a mentally ill Vancouver man after new video evidence came to light in a CBC News report Monday.

Paul Boyd, 39, was shot to death by Vancouver police on August 13, 2007, during a confrontation on a busy city street.

Andreas Bergen, of Winnipeg, who was visiting Vancouver when he happened upon the incident as it unfolded, gave the video to CBC News. Bergen said he had lost track of the case and became concerned when he recently learned of the outcome of the investigations into the shooting.

The officer who fired the fatal shot, Const. Paul Chipperfield, was cleared after investigations by both police and by the B.C. Police Complaints Commission.

Earlier Tuesday, it was announced that police investigators from Alberta will conduct an independent review of the new evidence.

The Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT) has been requested to examine both the video and witness information as an independent body by the B.C. Ministry of Justice and the Office of the Police Complaints Commissioner, according to a statement released by the Vancouver Police Department on Tuesday morning.

Minister of Justice and Attorney General Shirley Bond said the review was ordered to ensure that British Columbians have confidence in their police.

"This is a very sensitive case, which is why we have asked the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team, an experienced, independent investigative agency, to consider the case in light of new information. I know that the Vancouver Police Department agrees that this matter be investigated externally and will fully co-operate with the ASIRT investigation."
Video shows man crawling

The video shows the last moments of Boyd, a 39-year-old animator, who suffered from bipolar disorder.

Boyd can be seen on his hands and knees on Granville Street, moving toward Const. Chipperfield, who is pointing a gun. The view is briefly obscured when Boyd crawls in front of a car, and Chipperfield fires the last of nine shots at him. The fatal bullet struck Boyd in the head.

The disturbing video is the only one known to be recorded of the incident. Bergen said he didn't think his shaky, dimly lit video was valuable because there were dozens of witnesses closer to the scene than he was.

But in March of this year, B.C.'s police complaint commissioner issued a report, concluding there wasn't "clear, convincing and cogent evidence … that Chipperfield used unnecessary force or excessive force during his incident."

Bergen said he read an account of the decision and became concerned and contacted CBC News to release the video. The video didn't capture the entire event in which Boyd — who was suffering from bipolar disorder and paranoia — fought with police, striking two officers with a bicycle chain and lock.

The video also doesn't show Boyd absorbing punches from police, blows from their batons and even several bullets fired to his midsection, yet not giving up.


to see the video: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/story/2012/05/29/bc-paul-boyd-police-review.html

 

[wilde]

Eyewitness account from the time of the shooting:

Man slain by Vancouver police trying to flee: witness
Victim, 39, still unidentified
Last Updated: Tuesday, August 14, 2007 | 1:07 PM PT
CBC News

A man shot and killed by Vancouver police on Monday night seemed to be trying to flee arresting officers, a witness says.

Vancouver's new police chief, Jim Chu, offered few details in a media briefing on Tuesday about the fatal shooting Monday night in the South Granville area, saying several investigations are underway.

The intersection of Granville Street and 16th Avenue was cordoned off after the police shooting and remained closed during the Tuesday morning rush hour.The intersection of Granville Street and 16th Avenue was cordoned off after the police shooting and remained closed during the Tuesday morning rush hour.
(CBC)

He did say the officer who fired the fatal shot has three years experience on the force.

On Monday night, police spokesman Const. Howard Chow said the victim, 39, who has not been identified, was shot after he began assaulting officers, who were responding to a 911 call, with a potentially lethal weapon.

But Christine Adkins told CBC News she was a block and half away on Granville Street when a police car arrived at the scene.

She said she did not see the alleged assaults but she saw the man attempting to flee when he was shot by police in the middle of traffic.

"A big guy in white sort of just ran out into traffic and he was sort of holding up his hands as if [to say] 'cars, don't hit me,' but cars were going very slow anyways. And there was a voice yelling, 'lie down, lie down,' and then they just started shooting," Adkins said.

"If there was an altercation with police it happened on the sidewalk, on the east side which we did not see, because at this point it seemed like he was fleeing," Adkins said.

Police guard the body of the man shot to death by an officer on Monday night.Police guard the body of the man shot to death by an officer on Monday night.
(CBC)

"He was trying to cross the street, got most of the way across Granville and had nowhere to go … and then turned around … He was metres away from any other person when the shooting started … there was nobody within two or three metres of him," Adkins said.

Adkins said she did not see anything in the man's hands at the time he was shot because it was dark. She said after the shooting started she lay on the ground and counted nine shots fired.

Other witnesses said they heard between six to eight shots fired. Police said they do not know how many bullets were fired.
Saw shooting

Another witness, who asked not to be identified, said he was just leaving a coffee house two blocks away when he saw police begin shooting.

"There were a number of rounds being fired and the officer involved appeared to be very composed at what he or she was doing."

Chow told reporters Monday night said the incident began when police responded to a 911 call about a street fight near West 16th Avenue and Granville Street at about 9:30 p.m. PT. The caller said two men were beating another man.

Chow said officers quickly arrived at the scene.

A man was seated at a bus stop when police confronted him and that's when he started swinging a chain with a lock on it, Chow said.

"As they got out of their vehicle, a man attacked them with a chain, striking one of our members in the head, the second one in the face," Chow said.

Chow said a third officer shot the man. Paramedics tried to revive the man but he was pronounced dead at the scene.

One of the officers was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

 

[wilde]

Didn't know shot man disarmed, officer says
Last Updated: Wednesday, December 15, 2010 | 6:44 PM PT
CBC News

The Vancouver police officer who shot a mentally ill man up to eight times three years ago on Granville Street says he didn't realize his police partner had already disarmed the man.

With the dead man's family looking on, Const. Lee Chipperfield told his version of events Wednesday at the coroner's inquest into the death of Vancouver animator Paul Boyd, who suffered from bipolar disorder.

After he arrived at the scene of a reported assault on Granville Street near West 15th Avenue on Aug. 13, 2007, Chipperfield said he saw another officer go down as a man came at him swinging a bicycle chain with a padlock on the end of it.

'It was clear my son was shot in the head when he was on his hands and knees.'—Paul Boyd's father, David Boyd

The man was out of control, growling and snarling, and that's when Chipperfield said he drew his gun and fired at the man.
No charges

Chipperfield's partner, Const. Mark Baird, has testified that after the fourth shot, he yelled, 'Hold your fire,' and went in to disarm Boyd, successfully flinging the chain away.

But Chipperfield said that in the heat of the moment, tunnel vision took over and he neither heard his partner nor saw him disarm Boyd.

That may be what the officer believes, but that's not what most of the other witnesses saw, said the dead man's father, David Boyd.

"[The witnesses] had no axe to grind. They had nothing to defend," said Boyd. "It was clear my son was shot in the head when he was on his hands and knees."

Vancouver police Const. David Chipperfield attends a coroner's inquest into the 2007 shooting death of Paul Boyd.Vancouver police Const. David Chipperfield attends a coroner's inquest into the 2007 shooting death of Paul Boyd. (CBC)Chipperfield said he fired a shot at Boyd's head when he failed to see any blood from the previous shots and thought Boyd was wearing body armour.

He said he was not armed with a Taser at the time.

He also told the family at the inquest he was deeply sorry for what happened and had no idea Boyd might have been in the midst of a psychotic epsiode.

A police investigation concluded in 2009 that Chipperfield would not face charges in connection with the shooting.

 

[vancity_cowboy]

tough dude :thumb:

took a full load of 9mm's to bring him down

it's a pity he had to die to find out just how tough he was...

 

[wilde]

Once again, this is not looking good for the VPD. The video appears to show the man crawling on his hands and knees before the officer fired the fatal head shot contrary to the officer's testimonies at the Coroners' inquest.

 

[Miss*Bijou]

tough dude :thumb:

took a full load of 9mm's to bring him down

it's a pity he had to die to find out just how tough he was...

You realize he had psychiatric issues and hadn't taken his meds that day, right? He wasn't just "trying to prove how tough he was" for the hell of it, he was in an altered state of mind because he was suffering from mental health problems.

Not sure if I misunderstood or misinterpreted your comments and intentions. I hope so though.


On another note, last night I watched the newly surfaced video that prompted the re-opening of the investigation. Two things seemed odd to me: 1) why would the person who took the video and who lives in Winnipeg or something, wait FIVE years to release it or say anything about the existence of this footage? And 2) the video itself is already disturbing (but really shaky poor quality), what makes it even more troubling is those people actually laughing as they watch and film this guy being repeatedly shot to death. it was just really odd and quite disturbing.

I hope they find answers, for the sake of the man's family. It's very sad. Didn't they have taser guns? Why would they use that much force? I mean, even after shooting multiple times, they shot again - in the head - which is what killed him.

 

[Miss*Bijou]

Ah, but was he crawling towards him in a threatening manner?

Maybe he was breathing fire and clearly their lives were at risk as he crawled towards them and the flames were getting very close.

 

[vancity_cowboy]

Not sure if I misunderstood or misinterpreted your comments and intentions. I hope so though.

both, but i admit to being unclear in my earlier post

hopefully the alberta types will be impartial, but i'm not holding my breath. the following statement says a lot:

But Chipperfield said that in the heat of the moment, tunnel vision took over and he neither heard his partner nor saw him disarm Boyd.

this is completely understandable; however, police training is supposed to weed out people who can't react properly under stressful circumstances. that statement alone ahould have led to the man being released from his duties and retired from the force. we just don't need people armed with deadly force who are subject to 'tunnel vision' in times of stress. i mean, how long would an ambulance attendant last at his job if he 'froze up' whenever he saw blood? except for the severity of the actions, there is not a single bit of difference between the two examples

 

[mercyshooter]

Law enforcement in Canada is always untrust-worthy due to the imperfect system. Therefore, the government always wastes taxpayers' money.

 

[Miss*Bijou]

Well what's for us to say what the cops find threatening? He could have been throwing his arms up in frustration and walking away from them. Some cops find that threatening.

He was crawling on his hand and knees....if that passes as threatening, we've got a serious problem. Don't you think?

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Uhhh. Okay?.... (Wth? lol)

this is completely understandable; however, police training is supposed to weed out people who can't react properly under stressful circumstances.

Totally agree.

 

[uncleg]

You realize he had psychiatric issues and hadn't taken his meds that day, right? He wasn't just "trying to prove how tough he was" for the hell of it, he was in an altered state of mind because he was suffering from mental health problems.

Not sure if I misunderstood or misinterpreted your comments and intentions. I hope so though.


On another note, last night I watched the newly surfaced video that prompted the re-opening of the investigation. Two things seemed odd to me: 1) why would the person who took the video and who lives in Winnipeg or something, wait FIVE years to release it or say anything about the existence of this footage? And 2) the video itself is already disturbing (but really shaky poor quality), what makes it even more troubling is those people actually laughing as they watch and film this guy being repeatedly shot to death. it was just really odd and quite disturbing.

I hope they find answers, for the sake of the man's family. It's very sad. Didn't they have taser guns? Why would they use that much force? I mean, even after shooting multiple times, they shot again - in the head - which is what killed him.

I take it you missed the part that mentioned there were comments made in German, which might indicate that the video ended up somewhere else, not in Winnipeg...........also let's assume that these people would assume that this would be handled in a proper manner and they would really not be following it in Manitoba or Germany. When the results came out that didn't match what they witnessed they spoke up...Also just wondering, how do you get repeatedly shot to death ?

 

[wilde]

More from the Paul Boyd's sister:

On August 13, 2007, at about 9:30 p.m., Chipperfield shot Boyd eight times near the corner of Granville and West 15th Avenue — the final fatal bullet delivered to the head of the wounded, unarmed man.

The dramatic and heart-rending 49-second video shows Boyd after the initial fusillade, hit seven times in the torso, painfully crawling across the street to his death.

Constable Mark Baird, Chipperfield's partner, can be seen removing the chain and bicycle lock. He later told the inquest he shouted: "Hold your fire."

Twenty-three seconds after that first volley, Chipperfield fired the coup de grace.

It's excruciating to watch.

"I wasn't surprised," Deborah said sadly.

"I had heard it all at the inquest. But it's like words don't matter. People don't believe it unless they see it. Witnesses said he was on his hands and knees, they said he was crawling but all Chipperfield had to do was say Paul was standing, that he was threatening. It didn't matter what anyone else said. Even the other officer said he was crawling. All that mattered was what Chipperfield said."

She paused before continuing bitterly.

"What did they call it, 'inattentive blindness'?" she acidly asked.

The Alberta Serious Incident Response Team was assigned Tuesday to review the case since the video cast a pall over the previous inquiries into what happened that night.

"I believe the ineptitude of the police actually caused this whole tragic event," Deborah said, anger replacing grief.

"Did you know that the first two officers on the scene had originally approached him as a witness? That he wasn't doing anything but sitting calmly at a bus stop with another man? Did you know that one of the two officers pulled a gun on him, and had him face down on the ground complying with them? But their failure to follow proper procedure gave him the opportunity to jump up and pull a bicycle chain out of his backpack."

She was incensed again, as if it all happened yesterday, as if a scab had been ripped off.

"All of this came out in the coroner's inquest," she fumed.

"It didn't make any difference."

Still, Boyd that evening was in the throes of paranoia.

He was off his meds, yelling at strangers and attracting attention.

Had the officers who first approached him had mental-health training, Deborah thought the tragedy could have been prevented.





Full article here: http://www.canada.com/entertainment/wasn+danger+anyone+Deborah+Paul+Boyd+sister/6708443/story.html

I think that cop should at the very minimum not be on the beat anymore (no gun since he's clearly too trigger happy) and be investigated for perjury along with the other cops who testified that Boyd was standing up and in a threatening manner when the fatal shot was fired.

 

[Jason_96]

The police officer who shot him in the head should definitely be fired and charged. The victim obviously wasn't a threat anymore after being already shot several times. Too bad this video didn't come out a few years ago though. Better late than never I guess.

 

[mercyshooter]

The police officer who shot him in the head should definitely be fired and charged. The victim obviously wasn't a threat anymore after being already shot several times. Too bad this video didn't come out a few years ago though. Better late than never I guess.

So death penalty for this officier would be justifiable in my opinion if the video supports. :thumb:

 

[DavidMR]

tough dude :thumb:

took a full load of 9mm's to bring him down

it's a pity he had to die to find out just how tough he was...

It's always refreshing to see humour that's in good taste.

 

[DavidMR]

Here is a blog item by lawyer David Eby on this subject. He's not overly impressed that the video is causing the case to be reopened since he thinks they had ample evidence even before this film became available.

http://davideby.blogspot.ca/2012/05/police-complaint-commissioner-has-some.html

 

[vancity_cowboy]

It's always refreshing to see humour that's in good taste.

there was no humour intended here, pal. mine was a comment on the absolute power of the human spirit. i am in awe of the person that Paul Boyd was

but it's always nice to hear others' thoughts on the topic

 

[Billiam]

I, and I assume most people, attempt to look at all of the facts and information before forming an opinion in such tragic situations.
To me, the most relevant ones would be that Mr. Boyd had already played decoy once and then attacked an officer who was attempting
to handcuff him while on the ground, that he had been shot numerous times and was still advancing directly towards the officers - whether
that was because they had missed, he had body armour on, or was whacked out on some drug is irrelevant and certainly would not have been
known by anyone at the scene. Some of the posters in this thread (Wilde?) have stated that he was on his hands and knees when shot, yet
others correctly point out that Mr. Boyd is NOT in the picture when the fatal shot is fired, and can actually can be seen rising from his hands and
knees position before he disappears behind the obscuring vehicle, again, advancing towards the officers. That is what I see with my eyes.

 

[mercyshooter]

I, and I assume most people, attempt to look at all of the facts and information before forming an opinion in such tragic situations.
To me, the most relevant ones would be that Mr. Boyd had already played decoy once and then attacked an officer who was attempting
to handcuff him while on the ground, that he had been shot numerous times and was still advancing directly towards the officers - whether
that was because they had missed, he had body armour on, or was whacked out on some drug is irrelevant and certainly would not have been
known by anyone at the scene. Some of the posters in this thread (Wilde?) have stated that he was on his hands and knees when shot, yet
others correctly point out that Mr. Boyd is NOT in the picture when the fatal shot is fired, and can actually can be seen rising from his hands and
knees position before he disappears behind the obscuring vehicle, again, advancing towards the officers. That is what I see with my eyes.

So you are saying that a highly injured suspect can defeat a very abled and well trained police officier?!

 

[Billiam]

No, I'm saying that, according to testimony from witnesses, and for whatever reason (READ MY POST - missed, body armour, or whatever) he did not appear
injured (witnesses reported seeing no blood), and continued advancing - at least two officers had already been injured by getting into physical contact with
him, and no taser was available - now tell me, with your vast experience (and the power of hindsight), what would you have done differently in those few seconds?