August 27, 2012
A date has been set for a hearing to determine who can participate at an upcoming inquest into the death of 67-year-old Douglas Leon Sanderson.
On Nov. 27, 2009, members of the Downtown Watch were called to the Vendome Hotel by the Winnipeg Fire and Paramedic Service (WFPS) to assist with transporting Sanderson to the Main Street Project. Sanderson showed no sign of injury but appeared intoxicated and was medically cleared to be taken to the Main Street Project (MSP) under the Intoxicated Persons Detention Act. Several hours later, when MSP staff woke him to be discharged, he apparently fell and hit his head on a fire extinguisher. He was kept at MSP but when staff tried to wake him again he did not respond appropriately. He was taken to the Health Sciences Centre at 6:51 a.m., Nov. 28. A CT scan showed a severe right-sided subdural hematoma and he underwent a craniotomy. It was noted that his brain was remarkably swollen and he died Nov. 30.
The immediate cause of death was severe blunt force trauma but the manner of death was undetermined. An investigation determined that Sanderson had been very intoxicated and was seen many times in the Vendome Hotel Nov. 27 including once lying beside a pool table where he had apparently fallen.
Under the Fatality Inquiries Act,inquests are mandatory for most deaths in custody including this one. Inquests explore the circumstances and events leading to deaths for the limited purpose of finding out what if anything could be done to help prevent similar deaths from occurring in the future. In particular, the chief medical examiner has suggested the inquest explore the appropriateness of the method of assessment used by WFPS to medically clear Sanderson for transport to MSP, and the monitoring and periodic assessments of him at MSP.
At the upcoming hearing, the inquest judge will determine who can question and call witnesses by having standing at the inquest. Those who want to seek standing should attend this hearing set for:
1 p.m., Sept. 6
Courtroom 405, Law Courts complex
408 York Ave., Winnipeg.
Dates for the actual inquest will be set following this hearing.
STANDING HEARING SET FOR INQUEST INTO DEATH OF DOUGLAS LEON SANDERSON
On Nov. 27, 2009, members of the Downtown Watch were called to the Vendome Hotel by the Winnipeg Fire and Paramedic Service (WFPS) to assist with transporting Sanderson to the Main Street Project. Sanderson showed no sign of injury but appeared intoxicated and was medically cleared to be taken to the Main Street Project (MSP) under the Intoxicated Persons Detention Act. Several hours later, when MSP staff woke him to be discharged, he apparently fell and hit his head on a fire extinguisher. He was kept at MSP but when staff tried to wake him again he did not respond appropriately. He was taken to the Health Sciences Centre at 6:51 a.m., Nov. 28. A CT scan showed a severe right-sided subdural hematoma and he underwent a craniotomy. It was noted that his brain was remarkably swollen and he died Nov. 30.
The immediate cause of death was severe blunt force trauma but the manner of death was undetermined. An investigation determined that Sanderson had been very intoxicated and was seen many times in the Vendome Hotel Nov. 27 including once lying beside a pool table where he had apparently fallen.
Under the Fatality Inquiries Act,inquests are mandatory for most deaths in custody including this one. Inquests explore the circumstances and events leading to deaths for the limited purpose of finding out what if anything could be done to help prevent similar deaths from occurring in the future. In particular, the chief medical examiner has suggested the inquest explore the appropriateness of the method of assessment used by WFPS to medically clear Sanderson for transport to MSP, and the monitoring and periodic assessments of him at MSP.
At the upcoming hearing, the inquest judge will determine who can question and call witnesses by having standing at the inquest. Those who want to seek standing should attend this hearing set for:
1 p.m., Sept. 6
Courtroom 405, Law Courts complex
408 York Ave., Winnipeg.
Dates for the actual inquest will be set following this hearing.
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Those interested in applying for standing should contact Mitchell Lavitt, Crown attorney, 204-945-3417.
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