Slain Windsor nurse often harrassed by doctor, colleague testifies

A Windsor nurse who was stabbed to death at the hospital where she worked was often harassed by the doctor whoeventually killed her, a colleague testified Thursday at a coroner's inquest.

Lori Dupont was slain at Hôtel-Dieu Grace Hospital on Nov. 12, 2005, by her ex-boyfriend Marc Daniel, who worked there as an anesthetist. Daniel later killed himself with a drug overdose.

Nurse Brenda Hooper told the inquest she had to run interference between Dupont and Daniel, who she characterized as a bully who often threw his weight around.

She said on one occasion she saw Daniel purposely hip-check Dupont into a wall. Another time, Hooper said, she herself felt threatened when Daniel told her, "I hate you all. If I could take you all down, I would."

She reported her concerns about Daniel's behaviour to her supervisor on several occasions and was told the administration was aware of the situation and would take care of it, Hooper said.

She said when she pressed further, she was told that "Lori and Marc were grown adults and could deal with their own problems."

Daniel had already tried to commit suicide earlier in 2005, reportedly when Dupont was trying to get him out of her life.

Dupont had applied for a peace bond to keep Daniel away from her and was waiting for a court date when he resumed working at Hôtel-Dieu in June that year.

The hospital, which had helped Dupont prepare the court application, offered her security escorts to her car and reserved a parking spot for her next to the security office.

Elizabeth McIntyre, the lawyer representing the Ontario Nurses' Association, said outside the inquest that given the pair's history, hospital management should have done more to protect Dupont.

"They should have been aware… of what the situation was," she said. "He shouldn't have been back. If he was brought back, he certainly should have been monitored. And at the very least he should not have been put on that weekend with Lori Dupont."

More of Dupont's co-workers are scheduled to testify at the inquest.