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Experts testify on Dziekanski's last moves

VANCOUVER - A video shows Robert Dziekanski took three "distinct" steps towards RCMP officers before he was hit with a Taser weapon, a forensic analyst testified at the inquiry into the Polish immigrant's death yesterday.

The testimony is meant to support claims from officers that Dziekanski exhibited combative behaviour. But the assertions were disputed by a lawyer representing the Government of Poland at the Braidwood Inquiry, and an expert in drawing measurements from photos.

Forensic video analyst Grant Fredericks took the video of the Oct. 14, 2007 incident at Vancouver International Airport and stabilized the image. He compared distances in two still frames to suggest that Dziekanski made clear moves.

"Robert Dziekanski takes three distinct steps forward towards [one of the officers]," he said.

But Don Rosenbloom, representing the Polish government, pointed out that a society Fredericks belongs to has been sponsored by Taser International.

He called his own witness, BCIT geometrics instructor Mark Hird-Rutter, who questioned Fredericks' findings, saying they were based on "flawed methodology."

Irwin Loy reports for 24 Hours Vancouver.

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