Inquest into RoopinderGill’s in-custody death at Royal Columbian Hospital on May 19, 2010 after he was taken into police custody days earlier follows the earlier announcement of an inquest into the death of Bikermanjit (Victor) Singh Kooner, who apparently went into medical distress while being taken into custody by Surrey RCMP.
SURREY – The B.C. Coroners Service will hold a public inquest into the death of another Indo-Canadian man who died three days after being arrested by Surrey RCMP last year.
Ropinder Gill died at Royal Columbian Hospital on May 19, 2010 after he was taken into police custody days earlier and went into medical distress.
At the inquest, scheduled for Oct. 11-14, coroner Liana Wright and a jury will hear evidence from witnesses to determine the facts surrounding Gill’s death. The jury will then have the opportunity to make recommendations aimed at preventing future deaths under similar circumstances. Gill’s inquest will be held in Burnaby.
Inquest into Gill’s in-custody death follows the earlier announcement of an inquest into the death of Bikermanjit (Victor) Singh Kooner, who apparently 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.
Kooner’s inquest is scheduled for Feb. 20-24, 2012.
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.
