Inquest underway into death of man in police custody

Watch the video above: Inquest underway into death of man in police custody

SASKATOON – An inquest into the death of a Saskatchewan man in police custody got underway Monday in Saskatoon.

Saskatoon police received a call about a case of public intoxication outside the Toon Town Tavern near the Confederation Inn on July 15, 2010.

A number of witnesses told police 46-year-old Stanley Robillard appeared unsteady and had fallen several times. One fall left him with a severe wound to the back of his head.

He was arrested and taken to St. Paul’s Hospital for treatment, but according to police, Robillard refused treatment and signed himself out of the facility.

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The 46-year-old was then taken into detention and placed inside a cell.

Early the next morning, he was found unresponsive by authorities.

Several attempts were made to resuscitate him, but to no avail.

Robillard was eventually taken to Royal University Hospital and declared deceased.

Details read aloud on Monday, by coroner Brent Gough, reveal Robillard suffered an abrasion to the back of his head.

Clutching a black and white framed photograph of her brother, Linda McNabb sat beside other family members during the inquest.

“I feel very sad about the circumstances surrounding his passing. They don’t reflect the proud man that he was and this would into have been the way that he would’ve seen himself passing on,” said McNabb.

“My brother was a man who loved to laugh. He was a family man. He had a grandson and he loved the outdoors. He was always hunting or fishing or camping.”

The inquest is expected to last for several more days with 17 witnesses set to speak.

“I drove for nine hours to be here. It is very important for me to be here for my family, to hear the details – though the details are uncomfortable for me to hear,” said McNabb.

The coroner reminded those in attendance that the inquest is not meant to determine civil or criminal liability.

Instead, it is meant to establish a clear understanding of what happened and what needs to be done to prevent another tragedy like this one from occurring again.