Advertisement

Kinew James inquest hears from pathologist, psychiatric centre warden

Click to play video: 'Final day of testimony at inquest into the death of Kinew James focuses on video'
Final day of testimony at inquest into the death of Kinew James focuses on video
WATCH: Final day of testimony at inquest into the death of Kinew James focuses on video. Ryan Kessler reports. – May 17, 2017

During her time at the Regional Psychiatric Centre (RPC) in Saskatoon, Kinew James died of cardiac arrest due to hyperglycemia, resulting from poorly managed diabetes, an inquest has heard.

Forensic pathologist Dr. Shaun Ladham conducted James’s autopsy and described it in detail to the jury.

READ MORE: ‘She had concrete plans for coming home’; inquest continues into death of Kinew James

James, 35, was found unresponsive in her cell in January 2013 and was pronounced dead in hospital.

At the time of her death, James was near the end of an aggregate sentence of 15 years for manslaughter, assault, uttering threats and other charges.

She was scheduled for release in August 2013.

Story continues below advertisement

WATCH: Testimony wraps at inquest into the death of Kinew James who died at the Regional Psychiatric Centre

Click to play video: 'Kinew James inquest hears from pathologist, psychiatric centre warden'
Kinew James inquest hears from pathologist, psychiatric centre warden

James had expressed anxiety about her looming departure from the centre, unsure how she would re-integrate into the public, the inquest heard.

Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day.

Get daily National news

Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day.
By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.

A temporary release from the centre can relieve some patient anxiety about integration, RPC warden Shawn Bird said on the stand.

However, James never reached the temporary release point in the process, he said.

Bird described a patient-oriented, open and respectful environment at the RPC, which is sensitive to needs of indigenous residents.

“I believe that we have a very robust program for addressing the cultural needs of the offenders,” Bird said.

Story continues below advertisement

READ MORE: Scope of inquiry delays inquest into death of Kinew James

James’s family said her medical needs weren’t met when a nurse had to wait to be joined by two correctional officers before approaching James during her cardiac episode.

Only one officer would have been required to be on duty during the day.

“It just seems backwards to me,” Kinew’s brother Cecil James said, suggesting more officers are needed during the day when more people are awake and moving around the facility.

The inquest is expected to hear a summary of the evidence on Wednesday.

The coroner will charge the jury, allowing them to come up with recommendations to prevent similar deaths from happening in the future.

— With files from Global’s Dave Giles

Sponsored content

AdChoices