Pelletier death by police sniper needs deeper examination: family
Juror at coroner's inquest supports call for broader inquiry
The family of a man shot to death by police after a standoff is not satisfied with how a coroner's inquest handled the case.
Delbert Kenneth Pelletier, 44, was shot and killed just outside his home on the Muskowekwan First Nation north of Regina in November 2006.
According to police, Pelletier had shot at an armoured police car before being killed.
A coroner's inquest made several recommendations to police, including suggesting the RCMP implement more sensitivity training on aboriginal culture.
The inquest took place over several days in October 2008 and the jury's recommendations were provided to RCMP. The Mounties' response was delivered to Saskatchewan's chief coroner some time later. The coroner's office released the response on Tuesday.
In the material, the RCMP said its training and policies were sufficient. The force said that it conducts an aboriginal perceptions training course twice a year for members of the Saskatchewan division.
Calvin Pelletier, the brother of Delbert Pelletier, told CBC News on Wednesday that he is disappointed with the RCMP response.
He said if the RCMP had adequate procedures and training, his brother would not have died.
The inquest jury also recommended that a full-time emergency response team be established for the RCMP in Saskatchewan.
Inquest juror speaks out
The family's call for a broader inquiry was supported Wednesday by one of the six jury members who participated in the coroner's inquest that examined Pelletier's death.
Catherine Spence told reporters Wednesday that jurors wanted to include a recommendation for a public inquiry in their report, but were dissuaded from doing so by the presiding coroner. Spence said the jurors were told a further inquiry would be too time consuming and costly.
Spence, however, said that evidence presented during the coroner's inquest raised more questions than answers.
"All it did was bring up a lot more questions," Spence told reporters on Wednesday. "And I think the family is justified in going forth with asking for a full inquiry. There's too many unanswered questions here."