Coroner's jury finds Gentles' death an accident
CBC News | Posted: June 24, 1999 9:44 AM | Last Updated: June 24, 1999
A coroner's jury has ruled the death of Kingston Penitentiary inmate Robert Gentles was accidental.
The Hamilton man died six years ago while guards were removing him from his cell for refusing to turn down his radio.
The five-member jury says Gentles died from suffocation associated with other factors.
They included chest compression, suffocation and the effects of the spray used to subdue him.
The jury's 74 recommendations range from the use of chemical sprays to how the institution was run.
Gentles' mother, Carmeta, isn't convinced her son's death was accidental and believes racism was a factor in the death.
Gentles was serving a 31-month sentence for sexual assault.