Public Inquiry into Myles Gray's Death Faces Month-Long Delay
The public hearing examining the police beating death of Myles Gray has been postponed until February 24, creating a significant disruption in the long-awaited proceedings. This delay comes after lawyers representing the involved officers refused to accept a controversial proposal from the adjudicator that would have allowed a recently resigned lawyer to continue participating in the hearing.
Lawyer's Resignation Following Vulgar Remark
Brad Hickford, the lawyer appointed by the Office of the Public Complaints Commissioner to conduct the public hearing into Gray's 2015 death, resigned abruptly on Monday. His departure followed an incident during Day 3 of the hearing last week when a vulgarity was captured on the audio recording. The offensive phrase "stupid c——" was apparently directed at a female lawyer representing one of the seven Vancouver Police officers involved in Gray's arrest.
The British Columbia Law Society has launched an investigation into the source of the derogatory comment, adding another layer of complexity to an already contentious proceeding. Hickford's resignation represents a significant setback for the hearing, which was originally scheduled to span ten weeks of testimony and evidence examination.
Adjudicator's Proposal Rejected by Police Lawyers
Adjudicator Elizabeth Arnold-Bailey attempted to salvage the situation on Monday by asking the lawyers representing the police officers whether they would permit Hickford to return to the hearing while the Law Society conducted its investigation. This proposal aimed to minimize disruptions and keep the proceedings moving forward without significant interruption.
However, Chris Considine, the lawyer representing the OPCC, informed the adjudicator that the police lawyers unanimously rejected this suggestion. Instead of supporting Hickford's return, the officers' legal representatives expressed their opposition to his continued involvement in the hearing, forcing a complete change in legal representation for the proceedings.
New Lawyer Appointed as Hearing Schedule Disrupted
With the rejection of Hickford's potential return, a new lawyer has been appointed to represent the public interest in the hearing. This change in legal personnel has necessitated a complete rescheduling of the proceedings, pushing the next hearing date to February 24.
Considine explained that had Hickford attempted to return, the police lawyers would have made formal applications on behalf of their clients regarding his participation. These applications would have inevitably become the primary focus of the hearing, diverting attention from the substantive issues surrounding Gray's death during the 2015 arrest.
The hearing is now scheduled to resume on February 24 for at least three weeks, with the remaining weeks to be scheduled based on the availability of all legal representatives and appropriate meeting facilities. This represents a substantial disruption to what was already expected to be a lengthy and complex examination of the circumstances surrounding Gray's death.
The case continues to draw significant public attention as it examines the actions of seven Vancouver Police officers during an arrest that resulted in Gray's death nearly nine years ago. The additional delay adds to the frustration of those seeking answers and accountability in this high-profile case.
