After 25 months of testimony and 139 witnesses, the inquiry into the death of native protester Dudley George ended Thursday in the town of Forest, Ont.
George was shot and killed by an police sniper on Sept. 6, 1995 during a native occupation of Ipperwash Provincial Park on Lake Huron.
The main question at the inquiry was whether former premier Mike Harris influenced police during the standoff before the Ontario Provincial Police moved in to the park to remove the protesters.
In closing arguments, a lawyer for the Aboriginal Legal Services of Toronto said Harris lied 17 times in the provincial legislature about the existence of a crucial meeting just hours before George was shot.
Julian Falconer argued that Harris's statement in a private meeting — that he wanted the protesters out of the park — was made known to the OPP officers at the standoff. Hours later, George was dead.
Harris's lawyer, Peter Downard, denied the accusation and called it an attempt at character assassination. He said the meeting came to the decision that it would be political interference if the government sent police to the park.
Justice Sidney Linden, the inquiry commissioner, has said his final report will be ready by the end of the year.
