The BC Coroners service is defending the length of time it’s taken to hold an inquest into the suicide of the RCMP officer who was in charge of media relations when Robert Dziekanski was fatally tasered at Vancouver International Airport in 2007.
55-year-old former Sergeant Pierre Lemaitre took his own life in 2013, while on leave from the force.
“We had to wait for other processes to conclude before we could finalize our next step,” said Coroners spokesman Andy Watson, when asked about the delay. “You know how Mr. Lemaitre died, by what means and if we can make any recommendations to prevent deaths in similar circumstances.”
Lawyer Bill Sundhu represents Dziekanski’s mother, Sofia Cisowksi of Kamloops.
“In the civil lawsuit filed by Lemaitre’s widow, we may find out more,” Sundhu said. “I mean there is the possibility, although its speculation, more information or evidence might come out about the degree to which there was a coverup or misrepresentation.”
The inquest will begin on November 26th.