Mesic inquest update

The jury looking into the death of a Hamilton man, Steve Mesic who was shot by police is hearing final statements by emergency workers involved in the case.

The jury has heard from lawyers for the hospital and doctors involved, lawyers for Constables Farrell and McLellan and a representative for the Empowerment Council, but still have not heard from the Mesic-Dorr family lawyer.

Police lawyers are urging the jury to deem death a suicide, Empowerment is urging homicide, hospital lawyers are not making call in regards to the cause of death.

Joint recommendations from all parties that they are encouraging the jury to make:

1) St. Joseph’s Healthcare reviews its procedure for granting and monitoring off-ward privileges to mental illness patients.

2) St. Joseph’s Healthcare reviews procedure for monitoring patient whereabouts and ensuring that staff is complying with monitoring. Also review monitoring tools.

3) Police include sessions with people who have received treatment for mental illness as part of annual EDP training.
Jury will deliberate after they hear from the Dorr-Mesic lawyer. They will have to rule death suicide, homicide or undetermined. They can also choose to adopt recommendations from lawyers and add their own to prevent similar deaths in the future.