A coroner’s investigation into the death of Regis Korchinski-Paquet faced challenges on Thursday as her mother made a new claim against police officers during her testimony. Korchinski-Paquet tragically fell from her 24th-floor balcony on May 27, 2020, while police were present in the apartment she shared with family members in Toronto’s west end.
During her testimony, Claudette Beals, Korchinski-Paquet’s mother, alleged that she witnessed officers pushing her daughter towards the balcony before hearing her call out for help. The inquest counsel sought clarification on Beals’ beliefs versus what she physically saw. Beals affirmed that she personally witnessed the officers pushing her daughter towards the balcony.
Following Beals’ testimony, concerns were raised by various parties’ lawyers about undisclosed evidence, particularly regarding the officers’ actions. The officers had previously testified that Korchinski-Paquet swiftly moved to the balcony after being asked to speak to a paramedic. The inquest was briefly halted to allow for discussions on how to proceed.
A neurologist, who reviewed Korchinski-Paquet’s medical records, noted her history of seizures and postictal delirium, a mental state following seizures. She had experienced seizures earlier on the day of her death, leading to a police response due to a disturbance involving knives. A police watchdog later cleared the officers of wrongdoing, stating that Korchinski-Paquet fell while attempting to move to a neighbor’s balcony.
The inquest, while focusing on first responders’ awareness of epilepsy, does not delve into the watchdog investigations. The presiding coroner highlighted the importance of exploring epilepsy, public support, awareness of postictal delirium, police response, and their interaction. The inquest aims to issue recommendations to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
Jurors in a coroner’s inquest provide recommendations but do not assign legal blame. These recommendations, while not mandatory, aim to prevent similar incidents from occurring again.
