Inquest to be held this month into the death of man killed by police in northern Ont.
A formal inquest will be held into the death of John-Paul George, who was shot and killed in 2020 in New Liskeard.
Dr. Harry Voogjarv, regional supervising coroner for the North Region, announced the inquest will be held May 27 beginning at 9 a.m.
George, 42, died in hospital on April 9, 2020, after he was shot five times following an interaction in New Liskeard with the Ontario Provincial Police.
An inquest into his death is mandatory under the Coroners Act. The inquest is expected to last five days and hear from around 10 witnesses.
“The inquest will examine the circumstances surrounding Mr. George’s death,” the Ministry of the Solicitor General announced in a news release.
“The jury may make recommendations aimed at preventing further deaths.”
An investigation by the SIU cleared police of wrongdoing.
The investigation found that three officers responding to a report of a break-in were told by the occupant she believed someone was still inside her home.
Police saw a man leaving the residence carrying what appeared to be a handgun.
“He yelled obscenities at (police), kicked the gate open and began to make his way down the stairs,” the SIU report said.
“In his right hand was what appeared to be a handgun.”
He was ordered to drop the gun, but instead he kept walking down the stairs, pointing the plastic gun at police.
“As the complainant came off the stairs and continued to within a couple of metres of (police), each officer fired his weapon … four and two times, respectively,” the SIU report said.
He was struck five times, including three times in the torso, and died later in hospital, the SIU said. Police fired in response to an imminent threat, the report concluded, and waited until the man was just a few metres away before firing.
The May 27 inquest will be conducted by video conference. Members of the public who wish to view the proceedings can do so live by clicking here.
For more information about inquests, click here.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Trump confronts repeated boos during raucous Libertarian convention speech
Donald Trump was booed repeatedly while addressing Saturday night’s Libertarian Party National Convention.
This type of screen time has the worst effect on kids: experts
According to some experts, there is one type of screen time that is continuously excessive, and it's having a severe effect on our children.
Family of toddler found dead at small-town Ont. daycare no closer to answers after year of investigation
A year has passed since two-year-old Vienna Irwin was found on the property of a home-based daycare in small-town Ontario, but her family says they are no closer to answers of what happened that day.
Grayson Murray, two-time PGA Tour winner, dead at 30
Two-time PGA Tour winner Grayson Murray died Saturday morning at age 30, one day after he withdrew from the Charles Schwab Cup Challenge at Colonial.
Humboldt Broncos crash victims and families react to decision to deport truck driver
The family of one of the victims of the Humboldt Broncos bus crash in 2018 says they are 'thankful' for a decision by a Calgary immigration board to deport the driver of the truck involved.
Fatal plane crash reported near Squamish, B.C.
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada has confirmed it is working with local Mounties and the BC Coroners Service after a plane crash near Squamish, B.C. Friday night.
'God forgives but we don’t': Loud outburst from stabbing victim’s family during sentencing hearing
An emotional outburst in a London, Ont. courtroom Friday disrupted the sentencing hearing of a woman who pleaded guilty for her part in the death of 29-year-old Mohammed Abdallah.
Three dead after vehicle plunged down a 100-foot embankment in Shediac, N.B.
Three people have died after a vehicle veered off the road in Shediac N.B., Friday morning.
Appeal denied for Edmonton soldier accused of trying to kill her 3 children
An Edmonton woman found guilty of trying to kill her three children has been denied an appeal.