BURNABY – The BC Coroners Service will hold a public inquest into the death of an Indo-Canadian man from Surrey, it was announced this week.
Bikermanjit (Victor) Singh Kooner went into medical distress while being taken into custody by Surrey RCMP.
At about 11 p.m. on June 22, 2010, police received a call that two men were seen running in and out of traffic in the area of 160 Street and 88 Avenue. After Surrey RCMP officers arrested one of the men, Kooner, they said he began to show signs of medical distress and was taken to hospital where he later died.
For years prior, Kooner had been operating a facility for addicts that he called the Spiritual Freedom House Society. The 39-year-old father of two had overcome his own addiction to cocaine and was helping others.
Vancouver Police were called in to conduct an independent investigation into his death. On Tuesday, the coroner’s office said it would also be looking into it.
The inquest is scheduled for Feb. 20-24, 2012. Presiding coroner Marj Paonessa and a jury will hear evidence from subpoenaed witnesses to determine the facts surrounding this death. The jury will have the opportunity to make recommendations aimed at preventing deaths under similar circumstances in the future.
An inquest is a formal court process that allows for public presentation of all evidence relating to a death. The BC Coroners Service is an independent fact-finding agency that may not make any finding of legal responsibility.
