The BC Coroners Service has confirmed an inquest into the circumstances surrounding the death of Chase de Balinhard will be held in the new year.

On Feb. 9, 2025, the BC Coroners Service received a report advising of a death following events involving members from the RCMP Surrey Provincial Operations Support Unit and the Surrey Police Service. Chase de Balinhard was 15 years old at the time of his death. The Independent Investigations Office has concluded its investigation of the death and issued a public report.

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.

A coroner’s inquest is a non-fault-finding public inquiry that serves three primary functions:

• to determine the facts related to a death, including the identity of the deceased and how, when, where and by what means the individual died, as well as a classification for the death;
• to make recommendations, where appropriate and supported by evidence, to prevent deaths in similar circumstances; and
• to ensure public confidence that the circumstances surrounding the death of an individual will not be overlooked, concealed or ignored.

A 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, as outlined above, though the jury must not make any finding of legal responsibility or express any conclusion of law.