'Can't understand' how alleged killer, 10, didn't get help: Children's Advocate

Although progress has been made, there is still a long way to go fixing the problems that led to the Lee Bonneau tragedy, Saskatchewan Children's Advocate Bob Pringle says.

Pringle was commenting today on the coroner's inquest into the 2013 death of Bonneau, 6, which concluded at the Regina Queen's Bench courthouse on Friday.

Bonneau was found severely injured on a southern Saskatchewan First Nation in August, 2013 after walking away from a bingo he was at with his foster mother. The 10-year-old boy accused of the killing, known only as L.T., was too young to be charged with a crime.

Bonneau died in hospital of blunt force trauma to the head.

Pringle's office released an exhaustive report on the case last year that made a number of recommendations. Even so, he said, the inquest shed some new light on the circumstances that brought the two boys together.

"The quality of casework for both boys and their families was an issue, and there were many missed opportunities to assess risk for these children, and intervene with proper supports," Pringle said in a news release.

"The inquest made clear that communication between various service providers was a problem, and that workloads often make it difficult for social workers to provide services as required by policy."

The inquest heard there had been many instances of disturbing behavior reported about L.T. leading up to Bonneau's death, but almost every time there was no follow-up.

"I cannot understand how a child so obviously in need did not get help until after this tragedy," Pringle said. 

"School staff, the RCMP, and community members repeatedly raised concerns about [L.T.] to the Yorkton Tribal Council Child and Family Services, with little effect."

Pringle said that since his report, Two Tragedies: Holding Systems Accountable, there has been progress on improving case assessments, training and communication."

However, "there is still a long way to go," he said.