The lawyer representing the family of an Ontario man with schizophrenia who died after a “physical altercation” with jail guards says a coroner’s report found the man sustained dozens of “blunt-force trauma” injuries.
Thirty-year-old Soleiman Faqiri died on Dec. 15 — 11 days after being admitted to the Central East Correctional Centre in Lindsay, Ont., on charges of assault, threatening death and bodily harm and two counts of aggravated assault.
Nader Hasan, a Iawyer for the Faqiri family, told Global News Friday they received long-awaited details from the coroner’s office two weeks ago. He said it affirmed “our deepest fears.”
“What the report confirms is that the autopsy found that Soleiman had more than 50 visible injuries all over his body,” Hasan said.
“Only one of those injuries, the pathologist says, was consistent with life-saving resuscitation efforts. The rest are consistent with blunt-force trauma.”
Hasan said the Kawartha Lakes Police Service, which is handling a criminal investigation of the incident, hasn’t released much information on what happened. He said they were told by police that guards were trying to restrain Faqiri after he was being unruly.
Although Hasan said he hasn’t seen security camera video of the incident, he said the report contains details of what happened.
“We understand from conversations with the coroner’s office that the video shows there were a number of guards involved in this attempt to so-called restrain Soleiman,” he said.
- Life in the forest: How Stanley Park’s longest resident survived a changing landscape
- ‘Love at first sight’: Snow leopard at Toronto Zoo pregnant for 1st time
- Carbon rebate labelling in bank deposits fuelling confusion, minister says
- Buzz kill? Gen Z less interested in coffee than older Canadians, survey shows
READ MORE: Family still without answers 6 months after Ontario man with schizophrenia dies in jail
“So many guards were involved in this, what I’ll describe as – I’m not going to mince words – a beating.”
Hasan said he was told officers were waiting for the coroner’s report and is looking to see what Kawartha Lakes police do next.
Yusuf Faqiri, Soleiman’s brother, said the family wants answers.
“For us, seven months have passed since the death of our beautiful Soleiman and to this day we have not got any explanation from the Ministry of Community Safety or Correctional Services or the facility itself as to why they did this to my brother,” he said.
“It’s not just frustrating. It’s disgraceful. It’s inhumane. It’s disrespectful. It’s utterly appalling the way that my family has been treated by the government.”
READ MORE: Family wants answers after Ontario man with schizophrenia killed in jail guard ‘altercation’
Yusef said the family also wants to know why they were not allowed access to him during his brief incarceration or given a reason as to why they couldn’t see or speak with him.
A spokesperson for the Ontario’s minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services said it would be “inappropriate” for officials to comment while there’s an ongoing investigation.
Global News contacted the Kawartha Lakes Police Service for comment on the case, but a spokesperson was unavailable.
With files from Adam Miller, Christina Stevens and Ryan Rocca
Comments