The province announced Tuesday that a standing hearing has been set to decide who can take part in the upcoming inquest into the death of 52-year-old Paul Leonard Duck.
Duck died following an incident on March 15, 2011.
Two RCMP officers were guarding the scene of a fatal house fire on God's Lake Narrows when they heard gunshots and glass breaking.
While waiting for help, “the officers were approached by a group of people including a male carrying a gun, later identified as Duck. During the incident, the male sustained a gunshot wound through his left arm and upper body and was taken to the nursing station in an RCMP vehicle,” said the province.
Despite efforts by medical staff, Duck died from the gunshot wound.
Under Manitoba RCMP policy, an external agency was asked to investigate. In February 2012, Saskatoon police completed an external investigation into the shooting.
The Saskatoon police investigation and an independent Ontario Crown review "have found there is no evidence to support criminal charges," said Saskatoon police in a press release in February.
The province said an inquest is also mandatory under the Fatality Inquiries Act when a death results from the action of a peace officer in the course of duty.
“Inquests explore the circumstances and events leading to deaths to determine what if anything could be done to help prevent similar deaths from occurring in the future,” said the province.
The upcoming hearing will allow a judge to decide who can call and question witnesses through having standing at the inquest.
The province said those wanting to seek standing at the inquest should attend the hearing scheduled for:
11 a.m., Sept. 28, courtroom, God's Lake Narrows Community Hall
People interested in applying for standing should contact David Gray, supervising senior Crown attorney, at 204-677-6766.
Dates for the inquest will be determined after the hearing.
