Mali immigrant dies after French police Taser him twice

PARIS: A hammer-wielding Malian immigrant died on Tuesday after French police shot him twice with a Taser stun gun during a scuffle, authorities said, reviving controversy over the weapon's safety.

The victim's room-mate, Edouard Torval, confirmed in an interview on Europe 1 radio that the victim had been "out of control" and had fought police.

Their neighbour, who gave his name as Abdelmalek, told AFP that he counted three Taser shots in all.

"There were about 10 police in all," he said. "The guy started shouting after the first shot. By the second he was on the ground with his leg stamping and after the third shot - he was already down - there was no more noise.

Police use of the Taser to subdue suspects has been controversial in France, with rights groups alleging that it can be deadly if misused while the company that produces the weapon insists it is safe.

The suspect was also tear-gassed and struck with a baton, the source added.

"Our colleagues, victims of the relentless aggression of this excessively violent individual, used the Taser under the most strict rules of legitimate self defence," the Alliance union said in a statement.

The police union paid tribute to the four officers whom it said were hurt in the incident and argued that if officers were not allowed to use the "non-lethal" Taser they would be forced to resort more often to deadly firearms.

Following Tuesday's death, left-wing opposition lawmakers demanded a new nationwide inquiry into the use of the Taser. Local prosecutors have also ordered an inquiry to determine the cause of death.

While it is true the company has so far been successful in defending the safety of its device in court cases, Taser shots have coincided with deaths in cases under investigation in Canada, Australia and the United States.

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