By Angela Brown

No charges after RCMP shooting, inquest to be held

Sep 25, 2018 | 5:00 PM

The province has announced there will be no criminal charges in the death of Brydon Whitstone, who was fatally shot by an RCMP officer in October, 2017 in North Battleford. 

Whitstone, 22, from Onion Lake Cree Nation, died after being shot in October 2017.

RCMP have said they pursued a vehicle after reports of a man being chased and shot at in North Battleford. The chase ended shortly after the suspect rammed a cruiser. That is when officers opened fire.

“Why did he shoot him twice? Why did he even shoot him?” said Whitstone’s mother, Dorothy Laboucane, when asked about the inquest by a Canadian Press reporter.

Laboucane wonders why officers didn’t Taser her son instead of killing him. She said it’s about time that an inquest was called.

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“My whole family needs closure, we need answers and we need to get to the bottom of this, the truth,” she said.

In Tuesday’s press conference, Drew Wilby, spokesperson with the Saskatchewan Ministry of Justice, said the Regina Police Service and an independent observer completed an independent investigation into the case.
 
Wilby said the Regina Police Service in consultation with Public Prosecutions have determined there will be no criminal charges laid as a result of the investigation.

He said the investigation team from the Regina Police Service met with Whitstone’s family to convey the results of the investigation as well. 

Inquest set

Wilby said he recommends people who still have questions attend the inquest. 
 
The Saskatchewan Coroner Service inquest into Whitstone’s death will take place from Dec. 3 to 7 at Queen’s Bench Court in Battleford. The inquest is open to the public. 

“The goal of the inquest is to determine the manner of death and the cause of death,” Wilby said. “As well, an independent jury will sit and make recommendations.”  

Wilby said he also expects testimony evidence will be called during the inquest.

-With files from Canadian Press

Comments are closed as the matter is before the courts.

angela.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsnow