The BC Coroners Service has scheduled a public inquest into the death of Lisa Dudley, to begin June 11, 2018, in Burnaby.

The inquest was announced initially in 2010. The inquest dates were confirmed only now, so as not to interfere with criminal proceedings, which concluded in 2017.

Dudley, 37 at the time of her death, died following an incident in September 2008 in Mission. Presiding coroner Brynne Redford and a jury will hear evidence from witnesses under oath to determine the facts surrounding this death. The jury will have the opportunity to make recommendations aimed at preventing deaths under similar circumstances. A jury must not make any finding of legal responsibility or express any conclusion of law.

The inquest will be held at the Burnaby Coroners’ Court, 20th Floor – 4720 Kingsway, Metrotower II, Metrotown, Burnaby. 

The Coroners Act permits the chief coroner to hold an inquest if the public has an interest in being informed of the circumstances surrounding the death, or if the death resulted from a practice or circumstance and similar deaths can be prevented by way of recommendations made to the public or an authority.

An inquest is a formal process that allows for public presentation of evidence relating to a death. For more information on inquests, please visit: http://ow.ly/8WRx30gbxTr.

The BC Coroners Service looks to gather the facts surrounding why a death took place and is not a fault-finding agency. It provides an independent service to the family, community, government agencies and other organizations.

Dudley was one of two individuals who died as a result of the September 2008 incident. The BC Coroners Service had also previously announced its intention to hold an inquest into the death of Guthrie McKay.

While the circumstances of both deaths were explored through criminal proceedings that concluded in 2017, Dudley’s death raises issues that are not applicable to McKay’s death. The chief coroner has therefore determined there will not be an inquest for McKay’s death.