THUNDER BAY - The coroner’s inquest into the deaths of two Indigenous men while in police custody is set to begin this morning.
Donald Mamakwa, 44, and Roland McKay, 50, died while in the custody of the Thunder Bay Police Service in two separate incidents.
The inquest date was announced by Regional Supervising Coroner for the Northwest Region, Dr. Michael Wilson, last month following several delays.
Mamakwa, of Kasabonika First Nation, died on Aug. 3, 2014 while in custody at the Thunder Bay Police Service headquarters, shortly after being found in medical distress.
McKay, of Big Trout Lake, died on July 20, 2017 while in Thunder Bay Police Service custody. He was found intoxicated and unconscious the evening of July 19 behind a Fort William Road business.
Under the Coroners Act, an inquest is mandatory because the two men died while in police custody. The inquest is scheduled to take place over 17 days, and 31 witnesses are expected to testify.
The inquest will examine the circumstances surrounding the deaths, and the jury may make recommendations to prevent future incidents from happening.
