During a coroner’s inquest into the death of Regis Korchinski-Paquet, her mother made a surprising new claim against police officers while testifying on Thursday.
Korchinski-Paquet fell from her 24th-floor balcony in the late afternoon of May 27, 2020, while police were present at the west-end apartment she shared with family members.
While recounting her memories from that day on Thursday, her mother Claudette Beals told the inquest that she witnessed officers push her daughter toward the balcony, and shortly after that, she heard the 29-year-old calling out for help.
“That’s your belief?” inquest counsel Roger Shallow asked Beals after she detailed the events leading up to her daughter’s death.
“That’s my belief,” Beals replied.
“I think it’s important that you’re able to speak your belief. I want to focus in on what you actually saw with your eyes versus what your belief is,” Shallow said.
“I saw them pushing Regis towards the balcony. That’s all I saw, but I saw that myself,” Beals said.
Lawyers Express Concerns Over Comments
Her remarks raised concerns among lawyers representing several parties regarding previously undisclosed evidence during a break without the jury and witness present.
Among those expressing concern were lawyers for the officers involved, who argued their clients hadn’t been given an opportunity to respond to these allegations when they testified earlier this week.
WATCH | SIU clears police of wrongdoing in death of Korchinski-Paquet:
Police cleared of wrongdoing in death of Regis Korchinski-Paquet
Ontario’s Special Investigations Unit has found no wrongdoing by police concerning the death of Regis Korchinski-Paquet. The Toronto woman tragically fell from her 24th floor apartment balcony on May 27 while officers were inside her home, which sparked protests across Canada.
Two officers, Const. Shane Beaudoin and then-Const. Adam Vandenbrink, testified that Korchinski-Paquet quickly moved toward the balcony after being asked to talk with a paramedic. They mentioned she was allowed into the apartment because she needed access to a bathroom.
The presiding coroner called for a recess on Thursday morning so legal counsel could discuss how best to proceed, which extended until early afternoon. When court resumed, however, Dr. David Cameron announced it would be adjourned until Friday morning.
So far, the inquest has effectively examined issues surrounding epilepsy and postictal delirium as they relate to encounters with police and intends to continue exploring these topics further as stated by Cameron addressed jurors.
“Exploring circumstances surrounding a death based on facts is also an important part of an inquest.. We’re currently strategizing how best to do this fairly and transparently while ensuring all parties involved work together clearly,” he noted.
That process is “taking a little bit of time,” he added.
Police Oversight Cleared Officers
<Theinquesthas heardthat Korchinski -Paquethad ahistoryof seizuresfromepilepsy, often followedby erraticand aggressive behavior. p >A neurologistwhodidnot treatherbut reviewedherrecords saidthaton multipleoccasions, she showed symptomsin keepingwith postictaldelirium , analtered mentalstate thatcan followseizures. p >Korchinski -Paquethadexperiencedtwo seizures earlierthe daybeforepolicewerecalled overaviolent disturbance involvingknives. p >Oneof province’spolicewatchdogslaterclearedtheofficersofwrongdoinginthe fatalfall , whichitreportedoccurredas she wasattemptingtomovefromherapartment’sbalconytoaneighbor’s. p >The scopeoftheinquestincludeshowfirstrespondersaretrainedand informedaboutepilepsy butis not meanttoexaminevariouswatchdoginvestigations intothecase. p >Jurorsinacoroner ‘sinquestdonotassignlegalresponsibilitybutcanissue recommendationsmeanttoprevent similar deaths inthefuture. Those recommendationsarenotbinding , however.
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