The BC Coroners Service has scheduled a public inquest into the death of James Daniel McIntyre beginning on Sept. 28, 2020, at 9:30 a.m. at the Dawson Creek Courthouse located at 1201 103 Ave.

The death of McIntyre, 48, was reported to the BC Coroners Service on July 16, 2015, following a police altercation in Dawson Creek.

Under Section 18(2) of the Coroners Act, inquests are mandatory for any deaths that occur while a person was detained by or in the custody of a peace officer.

Michael Egilson, presiding coroner, 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. The jury will certify the identity of the deceased and how, where, when and by what means death occurred.

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

Note that during the COVID-19 pandemic, in compliance with physical and social distancing requirements set out by the provincial health officer, the BC Coroners Service was required to postpone several inquests. The BC Coroners Service is in the process of rescheduling those inquests and will announce confirmed dates, times and locations once those confirmed details are known.

Learn More:

For more information on inquests, visit:
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/life-events/death/coroners-service/inquest-schedule-jury-findings-verdicts

BC Coroners Service: http://www.gov.bc.ca/coroners/