MONTREAL- The exact sequence of events that led police to kill a 25-year-old man named Mohammed Anas Bennis in 2005 remains unclear.
An upcoming effort to finally establish what really happened could fall off the rails before it even begins.
The family of the victim has decided to boycott a coroner's inquest into the affair, which begins Wednesday, April 27.
They cite two issues. One is money.
In comparable cases, the government has paid the legal fees for families. For example, they footed the bill for the coroner's inquest into the police killing of Fredy Villanueva.
They have not extended the same largesse to the Bennis family.
"All the other lawyers are covered by public funds and it would be very unjust to have the family bear this burden," said lawyer Philippe Robert de Massy.
Bennis, who was 25 at the time of his death, was shot by police as he returned from a mosque on Dec. 1, 2005.
Quebec City police carried out an investigation and concluded that police killed Bennis because Bennis attacked officers with a knife.
The family's second objection lies in the fact that his supporters have been refused permission to participate in the inquiry.
At least one supporter has many questions to ask.
"Why was it that the knife didn't undergo any forensice evidence or evaluation?" asked Samir Shaheen-Hussaine, who participates in the Justice for Anas Coalition, which will not be allowed to contribute to the coroner's inquiry. "Why was there such an emphasis on Anas being of Arab race?"
