Inquest called into 2018 death of Kugluktuk man in police custody
Hearing into Austin Maniyogena’s death set for May 2 to 6
An inquest into the 2018 death of Kugluktuk man Austin Maniyogena, who died while in police custody, will be held from May 2 to 6 in the hamlet. (File photo by Dustin Patar)
An inquest into the death of a Kugluktuk man nearly four years ago while in RCMP custody is scheduled for early May.
Austin Maniyogena, 22, died Sept. 19, 2018 in Yellowknife, N.W.T. after being flown there by air ambulance from Kugluktuk.
Maniyogena was being held in police custody at the time the incident occurred. An investigation was conducted by the Calgary Police Service following his death.
Nunavut’s chief coroner’s office will conduct the inquest, expected to run from May 2 to 6 at the Kugluktuk community hall.
The inquest is being held to explore circumstances surrounding the death of Maniyogena, and consider recommendations to prevent future deaths in similar circumstances, according to notice issued by the coroner’s office Monday.
Inquests are mandatory for deaths that occur while a person is in police custody, according to Nunavut’s Coroners Act. They do not determine the guilt or innocence of anyone involved in the incident.
The inquest will be led by coroner’s counsel Sheldon Toner and presided over by Nunavut chief coroner Khen Sagadraca.
Individuals wishing to participate can contact the Nunavut Coroner’s Office at 867-975-6318 or 867-975-6562.
I’ll admit to being unaware of the process and timeline for a coroner’s inquest, but nearly four years later seems like a very excessive delay – especially given the extensive series of events that led to that young man’s very unnecessary and brutal death.
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Some of the staff among different departments, institutions, and jurisdictions will likely have left their positions, the region, or passed away