The BC Coroners Service has rescheduled a public inquest into the death of Pierre Jean Dabe Lemaitre.

Due to scheduling conflicts, with several key witnesses unavailable for the week of Nov. 19, the BC Coroners Service has further postponed the start date of the inquest into the death of Lemaitre to Monday, Nov. 26, 2018. The venue and time remains the same: 9:30 a.m. at the Burnaby Coroners' Court (20th Floor - 4720 Kingsway, Metrotower II, Metrotown, Burnaby).

Lemaitre was 55 years of age when he died on July 29, 2013, in Abbotsford. He was a 28-year veteran of the RCMP who died as a result of self-inflicted injuries. The Coroners Act permits the chief coroner to hold an inquest if the chief coroner has reason to believe that the public has an interest in being informed of the circumstances surrounding the death, or the death resulted from a dangerous practice or circumstance.

After reviewing the information from the coroner’s investigation, the chief coroner directed this inquest to review the circumstances of Lemaitre’s death, and to explore whether there are opportunities for a jury to make recommendations that may prevent deaths in similar circumstances.

Presiding coroner Vincent Stancato, 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.

An inquest is a formal process that allows for public presentation of evidence relating to a death. For more information on inquests, please visit:
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/life-events/death/coroners-service/investigations-inquests

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.