Jury selection has concluded and testimony has begun into the public inquest into the death of Waylon Starr.
Starr of the Star Blanket Cree Nation was found unresponsive in his cell at the Regina Correctional Center on August 24, 2017.
Medical personnel responded and performed CPR. Starr was pronounced deceased.
This morning, the jury of four women and two men were selected to hear testimony from nine witnesses, in an inquest expected to last three to four days.
The first witness to take the stand at the Court of Queen’s Bench in Regina was pathologist Dr. Edward Alport, who conducted the autopsy on Starr.
Alport testified that the cause of death was asphyxiation from hanging.
He stated that Starr’s body exhibited no other signs of trauma, the toxicology results for illicit and prescription drugs were negative and that Starr was otherwise in good health.
Alport said the autopsy was straight forward.
Billie Jean Dieter, Community Support Worker with the File Hills Qu’Appelle Tribal Council is assisting the Starr family throughout the inquest.
She asked Alport why the autopsy did not show signs of bruising, which were visible at the funeral?
Alport responded saying that the appearance of bruising depends on the skin complexion and severity of the bruise.
Testimony will continue this afternoon, examining the correctional center report.
(Photo: Court of Queen’s Bench Regina. By Dan Jones)
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Testimony into the Waylon Starr inquest heard from a corrections investigator Monday afternoon.
Brian Bonkowski was tasked with examining how Starr died at the Regina Correctional Center on August 24, 2017.
Bonkowski tracked Starr’s last day through video surveillance and telephone conversations, providing his final report to the inquest jury.
Bonkowski testified based on his report that Starr’s day was fairly mundane.
In the morning, Starr called his mother to see how she was doing and ended the call with “I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”
Starr had physical fitness for one hour before returning to his cell.
At approximately 6 PM, Starr and his cellmate Shawn Buffalo, got into an altercation, resulting in Buffalo being placed in another cell.
At about 6:30 Starr requested to see a nurse as he was having stomach pain, suspected from drinking too much milk.
The nurse took his blood pressure and questioned him about his mental condition, following the altercation.
Bonkowski stated that Starr did not express concern for his mental well-being, but that Starr requested to stay in medical cells for the evening.
The correction officer supervisor denied that request and Starr was returned to his cell.
The nurse asked that Starr be re-examined for the night concluded.
Bonkowski testified records indicated that a cleaning inmate identified as “Herman” acknowledged Starr shortly before 10PM, as Herman smiled and nodded to Starr and asked how he was doing. 12 minutes later, Herman told Bonkowski he observed that the two windows to Starr’s cell door were covered.
He tried four times to speak to Starr, yet got no response.
Herman stated that he did not notify the corrections officers wanting to respect Starr’s privacy.
Bonkowski testified that at about 10:30 Officer Justin Amyotte checked Starr’s cell to find Starr unresponsive.
CPR was immediately administered, however efforts to resuscitate Starr were unsuccessful with Starr being pronounced deceased shortly before midnight.
Bonkowski said that medical assessment, including a mental health and suicide evaluations were missing, but may not have existed. Testimony will continue Tuesday with officials from the Regina Correctional Center.
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Tuesday July 23 1PM
The Correctional Officer in charge at the Regina Correctional Center the night Waylon Starr was found unresponsive in cell told an inquest jury that when he arrived on scene three other correctional officers were attempting CPR to resuscitate Starr.
Brian Rees says he responded to a code blue or medical distress request at approximately 10:30 PM August 24, 2017.
He said that EMS was called, yet Starr was pronounced deceased shortly before midnight.
Rees testified that him and a fellow officer confiscated several items, including a book and suicide notes.
Those notes were read to the jury and submitted as evidence.
Starr’s notes state that it was time for him to leave the earth and enter the spirit world.
He wanted his family not to worry or cry about the loss, but that he loved his daughter and wanted her raised well.
More correctional staff are expected to testify Tuesday.