ÿWPC  ¶sÙgs LBg Ì~õ”P¬ÈDœòÞ•ªIEXIŠŸ.Týæ§]ÄžUÎ\ ×ú2ê^à˜äèó´þE§Sª»—n„ 5ÊéÙ’z;coì óÁh‡ êAþ|½ ÔfcŠ ÂMÏåKœ„ò+-ç·W<ÄæÓ””3ú7•lœ»œ»M†ä¼SŠ6¨"ÐìÍ)©zò­•b¡d;ðò‘'žæú·tîyì%î@_ ~dÝú£™0árÛ4W™(¡ ºMW̱%ÄwÝ5HjȹñWµ¦v‚T4d „Þ'tW ³M˜Vè2s™Z›HÄF{{ÔÃî×…kŸñƒ¶ô>‚Í=/ör{¦ ëÛiÁý“ÀÆÌ Š²qàÑç“áHŒÞÑ^vR2Á rrž ÂsÂH×gmÖ‰%n£Ø¶û¼Ì$ô~Õ«I!-ÿÆ©rÔ@?š£‹õ¯É¹74ªWüVì\íxÓi®Í5ðØaHD¦Ni˜;bx ˆõ¥Iç×r,Æ|‹G _ºˆï°ÉõkýÏ/e0”–§D‡B!\\ ?öC}ÚW_BÌ€ 0nL 0iº 0Y# 0_| 0&ÛU6  7 0ÆG #Á UNÎ % M" (& NN ^ P w\ 4` t mv ô\  `‹&Times New Roman' United Nations Human Rights Website - Treaty Bodies Database - Document - Jurisprudence - 4nt - Jurisprudence - "Angie Dituri"0Angie Dituri .   <ÿÿ:Default ParaÔ€ôôôÔÔ€XXXÔ< ÿÿ:Normal (Web)Ô S ÔÓ =jSÓÓ =jSÓ6ÿÿ4HyperlinkóóòòÔ ÿ ÔóóÔ  Ô<ÿÿ:FollowedHypeóóòòÔ  ÔóóÔ  Ô<qyÿÿ:HTML TypewriÔ€ôôôÔÔK€<þ6X9`(‹Courier NewKÔÔ  ÔÔ€XXXÔÔS€ô\  `‹&Times New RomanSÔÔ  Ô<þ6X9`(‹Courier New#|x(žE&$¡¡ÒÜ°ÒÒÜ°ÒÔ..ÔÔ  ÔÔ  ÔÓ  ÓÔ€ XhXX XÔÔ€XhXX XhÔÔÔ˜HP LaserJet 6P/6MP - Standard,ä,,,,,ä0(ÈhH  Z‹6Times New Roman Regular XÒ~ô* Äpì*c(¤³prograÿU‹ÿÀÀÀÝ ƒ E&!ÝÒÜ°ÒÒÜ°ÒÔ..ÔÔ  ÔÔ  ÔÓ  ÓÔ€ XkXXX XÔÔ€XkXXX XkXÔÔÔÝ  ÝÔ_Ôò òCOMMITTEE€AGAINST€TORTUREÐ ° ÐÌòòÔ_ÔAkhimienÔ_Ô€v.€CanadaóóÐ |Ì ÐÌCommunication€No€67/1997Ð H˜ ÐÌ17€November€1998Ð  d ÐÌCAT/C/21/D/67/1997Ð à 0 ÐÌÌADMISSIBILITYó óÐ ’â  ÐòòóóÌÌòòòòSubmitted€byóó:€E.O.€Ô_ÔAkhidenorÔ_Ô,€E.€Ô_ÔAinabeÔ_Ô,€R.€Ô_ÔAkhidenorÔ_Ô,€J.€Ô_ÔAkhidenorÔ_Ô,€K.€Ô_ÔAkhidenorÔ_Ô€andÐ D”  ÐW.€Ô_ÔAkhidenorÔ_Ô€€[represented€by€counsel]€Ð *z  ÐÌòòAlleged€victimóó:€Michael€Ô_ÔOsaretinÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔAkhimienÔ_ԀРöF ÐÌòòState€partyóó:€Canada€Ð  ÐÌòòDate€of€communicationóó:€5€December€1996óó€Ð ŽÞ ÐÌÌòòÓ  ÓÓ  ÓThe€Committee€against€Tortureóó,€established€under€article€17€of€the€Convention€againstÐ @ ÐTorture€and€Other€Cruel,€Inhuman€or€Degrading€Treatment€or€Punishment,€Ð &v ÐÌòòMeetingóó€on€17€November€1998,€Ð òB ÐÌòòAdoptsóó€the€following:€Ð ¾ ÐÌÓoÓÐ Ðòòò òDecision€on€admissibilityó óóóÐ p!À  ÐÓÓÌÌ1.€The€authors€of€the€communication€are€Ms.€Elizabeth€Ô_ÔOmoaluseÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔAkhidenorÔ_Ô,€Mr.€Ô_ÔEzekielÔ_ÔÐ "$r# ÐÔ_ÔAinabeÔ_Ô,€Mr.€Richard€Ô_ÔAkhidenorÔ_Ô,€Ms.€Ô_ÔJennifferÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔAkhidenorÔ_Ô,€Ms.€Kingsley€Ô_ÔAkhidenorÔ_Ô€and€Mr.Ð %X $ ÐWilliam€Ô_ÔAkhidenorÔ_Ô,€citizens€of€Nigeria€and€surviving€relatives€and€dependants€of€Mr.Ð î%>!% ÐMichael€Ô_ÔOsaretinÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔAkhimienÔ_Ô.€The€authors€claim€that€in€connection€with€the€death€in€detentionÐ Ô&$"& Ðof€Mr.€Ô_ÔAkhimienÔ_Ô€and€the€subsequent€investigation€into€the€causes€of€his€death,€Canada€hasÐ º' #' Ðacted€in€violation€of€articles€2,€10,€11,€12,€13,€14€and€16€of€the€Convention.€The€authors€areÐ  (ð#( Ðrepresented€by€counsel.€Ð †)Ö$) ÐÌòòFacts€as€submitted€by€the€authorsóó€Ð R+¢&+ ÐÌ2.1€Mr.€Ô_ÔAkhimienÔ_Ô€was€arrested€on€28€October€1995,€after€having€filed€an€application€forÐ -n(- Ðasylum€in€Canada.€He€was€held€at€the€Canadian€Immigration€Detention€Ô_ÔCentreÔ_Ô€of€NiagaraÐ ° ÐFalls€until€30€October€1995€when€he€was€transferred€to€the€Canadian€Immigration€HoldingÐ –æ ÐÔ_ÔCentreÔ_Ô€Celebrity€Inn€in€Mississauga,€Ontario.€Mr.€Ô_ÔAkhimienÔ_Ô€remained€at€the€Celebrity€InnÐ |Ì Ðuntil€his€death,€caused€by€pneumonia€and/or€untreated€diabetes,€on€17€December€1995.€Ð b² ÐÌ2.2€According€to€counsel,€on€6€December€1995,€Mr.€Ô_ÔAkhimienÔ_Ô€had€complained€to€otherÐ . ~ Ðdetainees€at€the€Celebrity€Inn€that€he€was€experiencing€health€problems,€including€blurredÐ  d Ðvision.€On€the€same€date,€Mr.€Ô_ÔAkhimienÔ_Ô€made€a€written€request€to€see€the€Celebrity€Inn'sÐ ú J Ðmedical€doctor,€listing€his€symptoms€as€blurred€vision€and€headaches.€The€following€day,Ð à 0 Ðon€7€December€1995,€Mr.€Ô_ÔAkhimienÔ_Ô€consulted€with€the€medical€doctor€who€specificallyÐ Æ   Ðruled€out€diabetes€as€the€cause€of€his€failing€health.€No€laboratory€tests€were€performed.€Ð ¬ ü  ÐÌ2.3€On€13€December€1995€he€made€a€new€request€to€see€the€doctor€and€asked€for€a€bloodÐ xÈ  Ðtest.€He€added€to€his€previously€mentioned€symptoms€that€he€was€experiencing€dizziness,Ð ^®  Ðloss€of€appetite,€lack€of€strength,€a€bitter€taste€in€his€mouth,€lack€of€saliva€and€nausea.€Ð D”  ÐÌ2.4€On€13€December€1995,€subsequent€to€his€new€request€to€see€the€medical€doctor,€Mr.Ð ` ÐÔ_ÔAkhimienÔ_Ô€was€put€in€solitary€confinement.€Counsel€states€that€he€was€put€in€solitaryÐ öF Ðconfinement€because€he€was€perceived€to€be€a€troublemaker,€constantly€complaining€aboutÐ Ü, Ðliving€conditions€in€the€Celebrity€Inn.€He€also€states€that€Mr.€Ô_ÔAkhimienÔ_Ô€had€argued€with€aÐ Â Ðguard€who€had€refused€him€water€from€the€kitchen€and€that€his€thirst€was€a€symptom€ofÐ ¨ø Ðdiabetes.€Counsel€further€states€that€the€room€where€Mr.€Ô_ÔAkhimienÔ_Ô€was€held€in€confinementÐ ŽÞ Ðwas€located€only€two€doors€away€from€the€doctor's€office€and€that€the€room€was€known€toÐ tÄ Ðbe€very€cold€in€wintertime.€Mr.€Ô_ÔAkhimienÔ_Ô€remained€in€solitary€confinement€until€his€death.€Ð Zª ÐÌ2.5€On€14€December€1995,€the€doctor€was€at€the€Celebrity€Inn,€but€did€not€examine€Mr.Ð &v ÐAkhimien.€On€15€December€1995,€Mr.€Ô_ÔAkhimienÔ_Ô€consulted€with€a€nurse€who€noted€hisÐ  \ Ðcomplaints€and€advised€him€to€consult€with€the€doctor€on€18€December€1995.€According€toÐ òB Ðcounsel,€the€following€day€Mr.€Ô_ÔAkhimienÔ_Ô€requested€medical€assistance€from€the€guards€whoÐ Ø( Ðignored€him,€assuming€that€he€was€faking€his€condition.€On€17€December€1995,€the€guardsÐ ¾ Ðcalled€the€security€supervisor€of€the€Celebrity€Inn€as€well€as€a€nurse€to€the€room€in€whichÐ ¤ô ÐMr.€Ô_ÔAkhimienÔ_Ô€was€held.€Counsel€states€that€he€showed€signs€and€symptoms€associated€withÐ Š Ú Ðuntreated€diabetes.€Mr.€Ô_ÔAkhimienÔ_Ô's€health€condition€was€thereafter€monitored€every€30Ð p!À  Ðminutes€for€several€hours€before€an€ambulance€was€eventually€called.€He€was€pronouncedÐ V"¦! Ðdead€on€arrival€at€the€hospital.€The€autopsy€identified€the€cause€as€either€pneumonia€orÐ <#Œ" Ðdiabetic€Ô_ÔketoacidosisÔ_Ô€arising€from€untreated€diabetes.€Ð "$r# ÐÌ2.6€Pursuant€to€the€Coroners€Act€of€Ontario,€a€coroner's€inquest€was€held€between€7€May€andÐ î%>!% Ð6€June€1996.€The€jury€concluded€that€Mr.€Ô_ÔAkhimienÔ_Ô's€death€was€caused€by€diabeticÐ Ô&$"& ÐÔ_ÔketoacidosisÔ_Ô€and€that€he€had€died€from€natural€causes.€On€5€June€1996€an€application€wasÐ º' #' Ðfiled€by€the€Nigerian€Canadian€Association€for€judicial€review€of€the€coroner's€inquest,€onÐ  (ð#( Ðthe€grounds€that€the€inquest€had€been€conducted€in€a€biased€and€discriminatory€manner.Ð †)Ö$) ÐCounsel€further€submits€that€the€family€made€attempts€to€file€a€complaint€before€theÐ l*¼%* ÐCanadian€Human€Rights€Commission,€but€that€the€complaint€could€not€be€examined€sinceÐ R+¢&+ Ðthe€deceased€had€not€been€lawfully€residing€in€Canada.€Counsel€also€submits€that€theÐ 8,ˆ', Ðavailable€domestic€remedies€do€not€comply€with€the€requirement€of€the€Convention€that€aÐ -n(- Ðprompt€and€impartial€investigation€of€any€occurrence€of€torture€must€be€undertaken.€TheÐ ° Ðdelays€inherent€in€a€normal€Canadian€litigation€process€are€not€compatible€with€the€StateÐ –æ Ðparty's€obligations€under€the€Convention.€Ð |Ì ÐÌ2.7€Counsel€further€draws€the€attention€of€the€Committee€to€the€fact€that€on€at€least€twoÐ H˜ Ðoccasions,€30€November€1995€and€8€December€1995,€Mr.€Ô_ÔAkhimienÔ_Ô€had€written€to€theÐ . ~ ÐCanadian€immigration€authorities€to€withdraw€his€application€for€refugee€status€andÐ  d Ðrequested€to€be€released€from€detention.€Ð ú J ÐÌòòThe€complaintò òóó€ó óÐ Æ   ÐÌ3.1€Counsel€claims€that€the€treatment€to€which€Mr.€Ô_ÔAkhimienÔ_Ô€was€subjected€while€inÐ ’â  Ðdetention€constitutes€cruel,€inhuman€or€degrading€treatment€and€that€the€State€party€has€actedÐ xÈ  Ðin€violation€of€article€16€of€the€Convention.€It€is€argued€that€Mr.€Ô_ÔAkhimienÔ_Ô's€death€wasÐ ^®  Ðpreventable,€that€the€acts€and€omissions€of€the€employees€of€the€immigration€detentionÐ D”  ÐÔ_ÔcentreÔ_Ô€were€the€cause€of€his€death€and€that€the€Government€of€Canada€has€the€finalÐ *z  Ðresponsibility€for€the€management€of€detention€Ô_ÔcentresÔ_Ô€and€therefore€bears€responsibility€forÐ ` Ðthe€death€of€Mr.€Ô_ÔAkhimienÔ_Ô.€Ð öF ÐÌ3.2€It€is€further€stated€that€the€conditions€and€rules€prevailing€in€Canadian€immigrationÐ Â Ðdetention€Ô_ÔcentresÔ_Ô€do€not€comply€with€the€standards€established€by€the€Convention,€inÐ ¨ø Ðparticular€by€articles€10€and€11.€Ð ŽÞ ÐÌ3.3€Finally,€counsel€claims€that€the€failure€of€the€State€party€to€ensure€a€prompt€and€impartialÐ Zª Ðinvestigation€of€allegations€of€torture€in€connection€with€the€death€of€Mr.€Ô_ÔAkhimienÔ_Ô,€as€wellÐ @ Ðas€the€failure€to€ensure€that€the€family€of€the€deceased€received€adequate€compensation,Ð &v Ðconstitute€violations€of€articles€12,€13€and€14€of€the€Convention.€Ð  \ ÐÌòòState€party's€observationsò òóó€ó óÐ Ø( ÐÌ4.1€The€State€party€recalls€that€pursuant€to€rule€107€of€the€rules€of€procedure€of€theÐ ¤ô ÐCommittee,€the€author€of€the€communication€must€justify€his€acting€on€the€victim's€behalf.Ð Š Ú ÐIt€maintains€that€it€is€unclear€from€the€submission€who€the€counsel€represents€or€whetherÐ p!À  Ðcounsel€has€a€mandate€from€Mr.€Ô_ÔAkhimienÔ_Ô's€family€and€dependants.€The€State€party€submitsÐ V"¦! Ðthat€the€Committee€cannot€examine€this€communication€before€counsel€produces€a€documentÐ <#Œ" Ðindicating€the€persons€who€mandated€him€to€act€on€their€behalf.€Ð "$r# ÐÌ4.2€The€State€party€submits€that€the€communication€be€considered€inadmissible€given€thatÐ î%>!% Ðthe€authors€have€not€exhausted€all€effective,€available€domestic€remedies€as€prescribed€inÐ Ô&$"& Ðarticle€22,€paragraph€5€(b),€of€the€Convention.€The€State€party€recalls€that€in€the€present€caseÐ º' #' Ða€coroner's€inquest€was€conducted€into€the€death€of€Mr.€Ô_ÔAkhimienÔ_Ô,€pursuant€to€the€Coroner'sÐ  (ð#( ÐAct€of€Ontario.€It€is€further€recalled€that€the€authors€of€the€communication€allege€that€theÐ †)Ö$) Ðcoroner's€inquest€was€not€conducted€impartially€and€objectively€and€that€the€rules€ofÐ l*¼%* Ðevidence€were€not€respected€during€the€process.€The€State€party€submits€that€if€any€error€wasÐ R+¢&+ Ðcommitted€during€the€inquest,€as€alleged€by€the€authors€of€the€communication,€a€domesticÐ 8,ˆ', ÐÔ_Ôremedy€exists,€in€the€form€of€a€judicial€review€by€a€Canadian€court.€The€State€party€furtherÐ -n(- Ðsubmits€that€on€5€June€1996€the€Nigerian€Canadian€Association€filed€an€application€forÐ ° Ðjudicial€review€before€the€Ontario€Divisional€Court,€seeking€to€quash€certain€rulings€madeÐ –æ Ðby€the€coroner€during€the€inquest€or,€alternatively,€to€quash€the€entire€inquest€proceedings.Ð |Ì ÐAt€the€time€of€the€State€party's€submission,€the€application€for€judicial€review€was€stillÐ b² Ðpending.€The€State€party€submits€that€domestic€remedies€have€not€been€exhausted,€eitherÐ H˜ Ðbecause€the€authors€are€the€parties€in€the€pending€application€for€judicial€review,€or€becauseÐ . ~ Ðthe€authors€could€have€brought€a€similar€application€before€a€domestic€court.€Ð  d ÐÌ4.3€In€response€to€the€allegations€of€the€authors€that€the€available€domestic€remedies€do€notÐ à 0 Ðcomply€with€the€requirement€of€the€Convention€that€a€prompt€and€impartial€investigation€ofÐ Æ   Ðany€occurrence€of€torture€be€undertaken,€the€State€party€draws€the€attention€of€theÐ ¬ ü  ÐCommittee€to€the€fact€that€the€coroner's€inquiry€into€the€death€of€Mr.€Ô_ÔAkhimienÔ_Ô€was€heldÐ ’â  Ðwithin€five€months€after€the€death€and€that€the€allegation€is€therefore€unfounded.€The€StateÐ xÈ  Ðparty€further€submits€that€the€authors'€arguments€must€be€disregarded€since€the€authors€doÐ ^®  Ðnot€substantiate€or€explain€in€what€manner€the€existing€domestic€remedies€are€unreasonablyÐ D”  Ðprolonged€or€in€what€way€the€authors€would€be€prejudiced.€Ð *z  ÐÌ4.4€The€State€party€also€submits€that€its€Criminal€Code€as€amended€prohibits€acts€of€tortureÐ öF Ðcommitted€by€officials,€such€as€peace€officers,€public€officers€or€persons€acting€at€theÐ Ü, Ðinstigation€of,€or€with€the€consent€or€acquiescence€of€such€persons.€Furthermore,€theÐ Â ÐCriminal€Code€prohibits€such€acts€as€assault,€both€with€or€without€bodily€harm,€causingÐ ¨ø Ðbodily€harm€with€intent€to€wound€or€to€endanger€life,€and€intimidation.€The€authors€of€theÐ ŽÞ Ðcommunication€could€thus€have€asked€that€criminal€charges€be€brought€against€theÐ tÄ Ðindividuals€who€allegedly€inflicted€an€act€of€torture€on€Mr.€Ô_ÔAkhimienÔ_Ô,€but€no€such€action€hasÐ Zª Ðbeen€taken.€Ð @ ÐÌ4.5€As€to€the€question€of€compensation,€the€State€party€further€states€that€the€Crown€LiabilityÐ  \ Ðand€Proceedings€Act€and€the€common€law€permit€persons€to€sue€public€officers€and/or€theÐ òB ÐGovernment.€The€Government€is€responsible€for€any€liability,€compensation€or€damagesÐ Ø( Ðassessed€on€account€of€the€improper€and€unreasonable€acts€of€its€employees.€The€State€partyÐ ¾ Ðunderlines€that€redress€is€available€in€the€civil€courts€in€respect€of€acts€amounting€to€the€tortÐ ¤ô Ðof€negligence,€assault€or€battery.€Such€redress€is€available€notwithstanding€that€the€same€actsÐ Š Ú Ðmay€constitute€a€criminal€offence€and€whether€the€accused€was€convicted€or€acquitted€atÐ p!À  Ðtrial.€Ð V"¦! ÐÌ4.6€The€State€party€recalls€that€on€24€September€1996€the€authors€initiated€an€action€beforeÐ "$r# Ðthe€Ontario€Divisional€Court€to€sue€the€Government,€pursuant€to€the€common€law€tort€ofÐ %X $ Ðnegligence,€for€wrongful€death€and€for€violations€of€the€Canadian€Charter€of€Rights€andÐ î%>!% ÐFreedoms,€section€12€of€which€states€that€everyone€has€the€right€not€to€be€subjected€to€anyÐ Ô&$"& Ðcruel€and€unusual€treatment€or€punishment.€The€case€is€still€pending€and€the€State€partyÐ º' #' Ðmaintains€that€the€authors€have€not€exhausted€domestic€remedies€in€this€respect.€Ð  (ð#( ÐÌ4.7€According€to€the€State€party,€article€14€of€the€Convention€does€not€require€a€particularÐ l*¼%* Ðor€specific€legal€qualification€that€an€act€constitutes€an€"act€of€torture"€but€requires€that€theÐ R+¢&+ Ðlegal€system€allows€for€compensation€to€be€paid€to€the€dependants€of€the€victim.€If€theÐ 8,ˆ', ÐGovernment's€liability€with€respect€to€the€death€of€Mr.€Ô_ÔAkhimienÔ_Ô€is€established,€a€fair€andÐ -n(- Ðequitable€compensation€may€be€awarded€to€his€dependants.€The€State€party€submits€that,Ð ° Ðconsequently,€provision€has€been€made€in€its€domestic€law€for€victims€of€torture€to€seekÐ –æ Ðredress€and€fair€and€adequate€compensation.€It€is€the€submission€of€the€State€party€that€theÐ |Ì Ðredress€provided€for€in€national€law€satisfies€the€requirements€of€article€14€of€theÐ b² ÐConvention.€Ð H˜ ÐÌ4.8€Compensation€can€also€be€sought€from€the€Criminal€Injuries€Compensation€Board,€onÐ  d Ðthe€condition€that€criminal€charges€have€been€brought€under€the€Criminal€Code€and€that€thisÐ ú J Ðhas€resulted€in€the€conviction€of€certain€individuals€for€having€committed€an€act€of€torture.Ð à 0 ÐCompensation€which€may€be€awarded€includes€expenses€incurred€as€a€result€of€the€injuryÐ Æ   Ðor€death,€pecuniary€loss,€and€compensation€for€pain€and€suffering.€An€application€to€theÐ ¬ ü  ÐBoard€does€not€prevent€a€person€from€recovering€damages€by€way€of€civil€proceedings.€TheÐ ’â  ÐState€party€reiterates€that€the€authors€have€not€brought€any€criminal€charges€under€theÐ xÈ  ÐCriminal€Code€and€that€a€redress€before€the€Board€is€at€present€therefore€not€possible.€Ð ^®  ÐÌ4.9€Finally,€the€State€party€submits€that€the€communication€should€be€consideredÐ *z  Ðinadmissible€as€the€authors€have€not€substantiated€their€allegations€against€the€Government.Ð ` ÐIn€particular,€the€State€party€states€that€the€authors€have€failed€to€establish€that€the€allegedÐ öF Ðacts€could€be€characterized€as€"torture"€as€defined€in€article€1€of€the€Convention€or€as€"cruel,Ð Ü, Ðinhuman€or€degrading€treatment€or€punishment"€as€defined€in€article€16.€The€essence€of€theÐ Â Ðcommunication€is€that€the€medical€care€at€the€immigration€detention€Ô_ÔcentreÔ_Ô€was€inadequate.Ð ¨ø ÐThe€communication€alleges€that€Mr.€Ô_ÔAkhimienÔ_Ô€did€not€receive€or€was€denied€adequateÐ ŽÞ Ðmedical€care€in€that€the€medical€staff€did€not€diagnose€that€he€had€a€diabetic€condition€ofÐ tÄ Ðwhich€he€was€not€aware.€The€State€party€submits€that€the€negligence€alleged€does€notÐ Zª Ðconstitute€torture€or€cruel,€inhuman€or€degrading€treatment€or€punishment.€Even€though,€inÐ @ Ðsome€cases,€omissions€could€be€considered€torture€or€inhuman€treatment,€what€is€alleged€isÐ &v Ðnegligence€in€the€provision€of€medical€care€to€a€person€already€suffering€from€a€diseaseÐ  \ Ðunknown€to€him.€The€State€party€submits€that€this€cannot€be€considered€an€"act"€of€tortureÐ òB Ðor€cruel,€inhuman€or€degrading€treatment€or€punishment€within€the€meaning€of€theÐ Ø( ÐConvention€and€that€the€Convention€was€not€intended€to€nor€does€it€apply€to€suchÐ ¾ Ðcircumstances.€Ð ¤ô ÐÌòòCounsel's€commentsóó€Ð p!À  ÐÌ5.1€In€his€reply€to€the€State€party's€submission,€counsel€states€that€the€purpose€of€theÐ <#Œ" Ðexhaustion€of€domestic€remedies€rule€is€not€to€ensure€that€domestic€remedies€are€notÐ "$r# Ðsuperseded€by€an€international€authority,€but€rather€to€give€the€national€authority€theÐ %X $ Ðopportunity€to€remedy€the€wrong€suffered€by€the€victim.€Further,€the€remedies€must€not€onlyÐ î%>!% Ðbe€theoretically€available,€but€there€must€also€be€a€realistic€chance€that€the€redress€would€beÐ Ô&$"& Ðeffective.€Ð º' #' ÐÌ5.2€Counsel€submits€that€subsection€31€(2)€of€the€Coroners€Act€explicitly€forbids€the€inquestÐ †)Ö$) Ðjury€from€making€"any€finding€of€legal€responsibility"€or€from€expressing€"any€conclusionÐ l*¼%* Ðof€law"€regarding€the€circumstances€that€are€the€subject€of€the€inquest.€Consequently,€it€isÐ R+¢&+ Ðerroneous€to€say€that€the€coroner's€inquest€held€into€the€circumstances€of€the€death€of€theÐ 8,ˆ', Ðvictim€in€the€present€case€obviates€the€necessity€of€an€independent€review.€Further,€counselÐ -n(- Ðsubmits€that€the€authors€were€not€parties€to€the€application€for€judicial€review€made€by€theÐ ° ÐNigerian€Canadian€Association€to€the€Ontario€Divisional€Court.€It€should€be€noted€that€theÐ –æ Ðfamily€and€dependants€of€the€deceased€lacked€the€necessary€resources€to€pursue€and€bringÐ |Ì Ðto€timely€conclusion€an€application€for€judicial€review.€If€the€authors€would€at€present€fileÐ b² Ðfor€a€judicial€review€it€would€be€dismissed€for€delay.€Ð H˜ ÐÌ5.3€Counsel€states€that€theoretically€and€practically,€criminal€prosecutions€are€strictly€mattersÐ  d Ðbetween€the€State€and€the€accused.€The€complainant€is€not€a€party€to€such€actions€nor€canÐ ú J Ðthe€victim€exercise€any€control€over€the€prosecution€process.€The€possibility€of€filing€aÐ à 0 Ðcomplaint€with€the€consequence€that€the€culprits€might€be€prosecuted€and/or€convictedÐ Æ   Ðcannot€be€considered€a€remedy.€Ð ¬ ü  ÐÌ5.4€With€regard€to€domestic€remedies€for€compensation,€counsel€confirms€that€the€authorsÐ xÈ  Ðhave€filed€an€application€under€the€Crown€Liability€and€Proceedings€Act€and€that€the€caseÐ ^®  Ðis€pending€at€present.€However,€counsel€adds€that€although€the€action€is€currently€pendingÐ D”  Ðbefore€a€Canadian€court,€the€action€has€been€stalled€and€the€case€has€not€progressed€sinceÐ *z  ÐNovember€1996€due€to€circumstances€not€attributable€to€the€authors.€Ð ` ÐÌ5.5€Counsel€further€submits€that€the€State€party's€reference€to€the€Criminal€InjuriesÐ Ü, ÐCompensation€Board€as€a€domestic€remedy€is€purely€speculative,€since€an€application€cannotÐ Â Ðbe€filed€until€after€prosecution,€trial€and€conviction€of€the€culprit.€Ð ¨ø ÐÌ5.6€Counsel€explains€that€he€submits€the€communication€on€behalf€of€the€family€and€theÐ tÄ Ðdependants€of€the€deceased,€in€his€capacity€as€their€counsel.€It€is€incumbent€upon€counsel,Ð Zª Ðin€that€capacity,€to€pursue€all€possible€institutional€remedies,€national€and€international,€forÐ @ Ðthe€purpose€of€redressing€the€wrongs,€injuries€and€damage€suffered€by€his€clients.€CounselÐ &v Ðrefers€to€enclosed€affidavits€authorizing€counsel€to€represent€the€victim's€family€andÐ  \ Ðdependants€in€national€proceedings.€Ð òB ÐÌòòIssues€and€proceedings€before€the€Committeeóó€Ð ¾ ÐÌ6.1€Before€considering€any€claim€in€a€communication,€the€Committee€against€Torture€mustÐ Š Ú Ðdecide€whether€or€not€it€is€admissible€under€article€22€of€the€Convention.€Ð p!À  ÐÌ6.2€The€Committee€notes€that€the€State€party€challenges€the€admissibility€of€theÐ <#Œ" Ðcommunication€on€the€grounds€that€counsel€has€not€justified€acting€on€the€victim's€behalf;Ð "$r# Ðthat€domestic€remedies€have€not€been€exhausted;€and€that€the€communication€is€notÐ %X $ Ðsufficiently€substantiated€to€serve€as€a€basis€for€the€Committee's€examination.€TheÐ î%>!% ÐCommittee,€however,€considers€that€the€documentation€before€it€shows€that€counsel€is€actingÐ Ô&$"& Ðon€behalf€of€the€family€and€dependants€of€Mr.€Ô_ÔAkhimienÔ_Ô.€It€also€considers€that€theÐ º' #' Ðinformation€before€it€is€sufficient€to€establish€a€òòprima€facieóó€case€that€the€communication€mayÐ  (ð#( Ðraise€an€issue€under€the€Convention.€Ð †)Ö$) ÐÌ6.3€Pursuant€to€article€22,€paragraph€5€(b),€of€the€Convention,€the€Committee€is€precludedÐ R+¢&+ Ðfrom€considering€any€communication€unless€it€has€been€ascertained€that€all€availableÐ 8,ˆ', Ðdomestic€remedies€have€been€exhausted;€this€rule€does€not,€however,€apply€if€it€is€establishedÐ -n(- Ðthat€the€application€of€domestic€remedies€has€been€or€would€be€unreasonably€prolonged€orÐ ° Ðwould€be€unlikely€to€bring€effective€relief€to€the€presumed€victim.€In€the€case€underÐ –æ Ðconsideration,€the€Committee€notes€the€information€from€counsel€that€due€to€the€timeÐ |Ì Ðelapsed,€it€is€no€longer€possible€for€the€authors€to€file€for€judicial€review€of€the€coroner'sÐ b² Ðinquest.€However,€the€Committee€also€notes€that€the€authors€have€not€filed€criminal€chargesÐ H˜ Ðunder€the€Criminal€Code€and€that€an€application€for€compensation€is€currently€pendingÐ . ~ Ðbefore€the€Ontario€Divisional€Court.€The€Committee€has€considered€whether€theÐ  d Ðcompensation€procedure€has€been€unduly€prolonged€or€unlikely€to€bring€effective€relief€andÐ ú J Ðconcluded,€in€view€of€the€information€provided€by€the€authors,€that€this€is€not€the€case€forÐ à 0 Ðthe€time€being.€Thus,€the€Committee€finds€that€the€requirements€under€article€22,€paragraphÐ Æ   Ð5€(b),€of€the€Convention€have€not€been€met.€Ð ¬ ü  ÐÌ7.€The€Committee€therefore€decides:€Ð xÈ  ÐÌ(a)€That€the€communication€as€it€stands€is€inadmissible;€Ð D”  ÐÌ(b)€That€this€decision€may€be€reviewed€under€rule€109€of€the€Committee's€rules€of€procedureÐ ` Ðupon€receipt€of€a€request€by€or€on€behalf€of€the€authors€containing€information€to€the€effectÐ öF Ðthat€the€reasons€for€inadmissibility€no€longer€apply;€Ð Ü, ÐÌ(c)€That€this€decision€shall€be€communicated€to€the€State€party,€the€author€and€hisÐ ¨ø Ðrepresentative.€Ð ŽÞ ÐÌ[Done€in€English,€French,€Russian€and€Spanish,€the€English€text€being€the€original€version.]€Ð Zª ÐÓÓ