Released on May 3, 2018
A public inquest into the death of Breanna Kannick will resume on May 14, 2018, at the Holiday Inn Hotel and Suites (1800 Prince of Wales Drive) in Regina. The first day of the inquest is scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m., with any remaining start times to be determined by the presiding coroner.Breanna Kannick, 21, was being held at the White Birch Remand Unit when, on August 20, 2015, she was found unresponsive in her cell. Despite resuscitative efforts by emergency medical services, Kannick was pronounced dead at roughly 8:30 p.m.
Section 20 of The Coroners Act, 1999, states that the Chief Coroner shall hold an inquest into the death of a person who dies while an inmate at a jail or a correctional facility, unless the coroner is satisfied that the person’s death was due entirely to natural causes and was not preventable.
The purpose of an inquest is to provide a public hearing to examine in detail the events surrounding a death. Sworn evidence is heard at the inquest before a jury of six people from the community. In addition to establishing who died, when and where the individual died, the medical cause of death and the manner of death, the coroner’s jury may make recommendations to prevent similar deaths.
Coroner Alma Wiebe of Saskatoon will preside at the inquest.
-30-
For more information, contact:
Noel Busse
Justice
Regina
Phone: 306-787-8959
Email: noel.busse@gov.sk.ca