Jack Keating
The ProvinceFriday, April 25, 2003
Vancouver police are being sued for beating two men outside the cancelled Nov. 7 Guns N' Roses concert.
Lawyer Phil Rankin was planning to file a writ in B.C. Supreme Court today on behalf of Robert Parent, 40, and Detlef Schroeder, 52.
In November, both men filed formal police complaints saying they were innocent bystanders attempting to leave GM Place when they were attacked by police. The beatings were caught on videotape and have been shown on numerous TV newscasts.
Rankin was unavailable for comment yesterday but has said before it appeared one officer hit the men.
Dozens of windows were smashed when a riot broke out after the concert was abruptly cancelled by GM Place officials at 7:30 p.m. as about 8,000 fans waited outside for the doors to open. Lead singer Axl Rose said the show was cancelled prematurely without the band's consent.
Parent, a video-game designer, lost several teeth and needed emergency dental work at Vancouver General Hospital after being struck by a police baton. Schroeder, 52, said he and his 22-year-old daughter were trying to leave the area when he was knocked to the ground and struck by police. He received bruises and was off work from his job at Air Canada.
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