Pathologist says Headingley inmate died of brain injury from lack of blood, oxygen flow

A medical pathologist says Headingley Correctional Centre inmate William Ahmo had no traces of illicit drugs — such as methamphetamines — in his blood when he died in February 2021. 

Dr. Charles Littman, an expert in forensic pathology, conducted the autopsy. He testified in court Thursday that Ahmo died from a brain injury, caused by a lack of oxygen and blood to the brain, likely triggered by how he was restrained by correctional officers. He also said that Ahmo's heart stopped during the confrontation with officers. 

Robert Jeffrey Morden, a correctional officer and captain of Headingley's Corrections Emergency Response Unit, is on trial on charges related to Ahmo's death, including criminal negligence causing death and failure to provide the necessaries of life. 

Ahmo, 45, was an inmate at Headingley before his death more than two years ago. He was taken to hospital in medical distress following a Feb. 7, 2021, standoff between corrections officers and Ahmo in a common room at the jail.

Ahmo died a week later. Manitoba's chief medical examiner ruled his death a homicide.

During the start of Morden's trial last week, court saw more than three hours of video shot on a handheld camera by an officer in a secured staff area behind protective glass.

In the video, Ahmo, 45, appeared to become agitated. The video showed Ahmo ripping a water tank and televisions from the wall, smashing them on the floor and throwing them at the protective glass of the secured staff area.

Littman said he watched the footage from that day. He testified Ahmo looked to be under a lot of physiological stress and exhaustion during the incident, likely causing his heart rate to rise. 

He testified that Ahmo did have an enlarged heart, a condition that could have exacerbated his body's reaction to the stress, but Littman said that wasn't the cause of his death. 

Prone restraint used on Ahmo

The video played in court last week showed that after hours of observation, members of Headingley's emergency response unit entered the area of the jail where Ahmo was.

The officers shot chemical projectiles at Ahmo, who was standing on the second floor of the unit, holding a broom handle. After a few minutes, Ahmo moved and swung the broom handle at about a dozen officers, who swarmed him and took him down. 

Soon after, Ahmo was brought into another room. 

In the video, officers could be seen holding down Ahmo in a prone restraint, which is where someone is held face down on the floor, with their legs and arms restrained, often with a knee placed on their back.

Littman testified that this type of restraint can asphyxiate a person, since it restricts a person's chest, preventing them from breathing properly. 

Littman said that in the video, when Ahmo was being held face down, he "appears to snore," which is a sign of agonal breathing — often described as gasping for air. 

"It's breathing that occurs at the end of life," Littman testified. "It's several breaths, a reflex reaction, to the brain being starved of oxygen." 

"Death is a process, and agonal breathing is part of that process." 

Shortly after, in the video, Ahmo said, "I can't breathe," while being restrained face down. 

Morden could be heard telling Ahmo, "William, if you're talking, you can breathe."  

During cross-examination, defense lawyer Richard Wolson asked Littman to clarify how Ahmo could talk if he was having trouble breathing. 

"If you're out of breath, you might complain that you're having trouble breathing?" asked Wolson. 

Littman replied, "If I run up the stairs, and I'm out of breath, I'm not having trouble breathing." 

He continued, "Having trouble breathing is having an obstruction to breathing, or you're having an asthmatic attack." 

In the video, Ahmo was transferred to a restraint chair, where he lost consciousness. Shortly after, paramedics were called in. 

Earlier this week, paramedic John Kirouac testified that when he arrived at Headingley, he found Ahmo unresponsive, with no pulse. After minutes of performing CPR on Ahmo, paramedics were able to revive him. 

Ahmo was taken to Grace Hospital in Winnipeg and was intubated. A week later, he was taken off life support. He died Feb. 14, 2021. 

Littman's autopsy found small fractures in Ahmo's chest bone, caused by the CPR paramedics performed on him, but Littman concluded those injuries did not result in Ahmo's death. 

Other small external injuries were found on Ahmo's body, including scrapes and bruises, but Littman determined they did not contribute to his death.

The judge-only trial, being presided over by Manitoba provincial court Judge Tony Cellitti, began Sept. 1 and continues Friday.