The inquiry was announced following demands by devastated relatives of the dead after a trial resulted in the acquittal of two Sikh separatists.
TORONTO: Affirming that a tragedy such as the Kanishka bombing that killed 324 must never be allowed to repeat, Justice John Major, former Canadian Supreme Court judge, has launched a judicial inquiry into the 1985 disaster in Ottawa.
The public inquiry was announced following demands for fresh probe by devastated relatives of the dead after a two-year trial resulted in the acquittal of two Sikh separatists.
Opening the probe, Major laid out the groundwork rules for how the inquiry would proceed and candidly pointed out certain "weaknesses" in the Canadian criminal justice system.
His statement came after he met about 80 members of the families, most of them Indian-origin, who lost their loves ones. They are hoping the inquiry will finally help to ease their personal pain.
The probe does not have the ability to retry the matter or find fault, but he said the inquiry (which is expected to begin hearing its first witnesses in September) can call witnesses to establish facts and support conclusions and recommendations as to how the system should have or could have functioned.
Justice Major said families of the victims will be able to address the inquiry in the first phase of its work without having to be sworn in or face cross examination. They can give their statements by appearing personally, writing or sending e-mail or using any other method of communication they wish to use.
A second phase of the inquiry will cover documentary evidence, witnesses and dossiers and other more formal submissions.
Under the inquiry's terms of reference, Justice Major can also undertake a full review of the Canadian criminal justice system as it applies to terrorism prosecutions, which could include deciding whether fundamental changes -like having terrorism cases heard by a panel of three judges -- would be appropriate.
On June 23, 1985, an explosion on board Air-India Flight 182 off the coast of Ireland killed all 329 people on the aircraft. Two baggage handlers were also killed when a bomb went off at Tokyo's Narita airport the same day.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}