Canada: The case of Albert Duterville - Canada must investigate allegations of racially-motivated abuse in a federal
penitentiary
Following recent reports of further violence against Albert Duterville at the Port-Cartier penitentiary, Amnesty
International calls upon Canada's Solicitor General to launch without delay a full inquiry into allegations of abuse
against Mr. Duterville.
Amnesty International has written the Solicitor General on two occasions about Mr. Duterville's case, asking him to
convene an inquiry and to guarantee Mr. Duterville's security.
There are credible reports that Mr. Duterville has been beaten more than twenty times since his incarceration began in
1990.
Albert Duterville is a Haitian national and a former member of the Haitian police. He arrived in Montreal in 1981, and
was granted refugee status. In 1990, Albert Duterville was sentenced for life with no parole before 15 years in jail for
murder.
Correctional authorities transferred Albert Duterville from one detention centre to another due to violence he regularly
suffered at the hands of other prisoners. Since 1997, he has been kept segregated from other prisoners for his
protection. Eight prisoners received additional sentences of six-months following an incident in August 1996, when it is
alleged that fifty prisoners attacked Mr. Duterville with iron bars and baseball bats.
It is alleged that on 18 and 27 June of this year, Mr Duterville, whose mobility is impaired and who usually moves
around using crutches or a wheelchair, was gassed and hit by guards in the Port-Cartier penitentiary, and left without
care for several days.
Amnesty International is deeply concerned about allegations by Mr. Duterville's lawyer that Mr. Duterville believes the
recent violence he has experienced is due to the fact that Amnesty International made representations in his case and
that there was television coverage of his situation.
The organization calls upon Canadian authorities to ensure that Albert Duterville is adequately protected from any
future violent attacks and that his basic rights are upheld. Anyone who may have been responsible for abusing Mr.
Duterville's basic rights must be held legally accountable.
View all documents on Canada at http://amnesty-news.c.tep1.com/maabEBWaa14x2bb0hPub/