The lawyer representing Richelle Dubois scrutinized the work of the pathologist who carried out an post-mortem on her 14-year-old son, Haven Dubois.
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Mere hours after medical professionals had been unable to resuscitate her son, Richelle Dubois says his loss of life was being known as an “accidental drowning” on a TV newscast.
On May 20, 2015, 14-year previous Haven Dubois was discovered unresponsive in Pilot Butte Creek on the east finish of Regina. Efforts to revive him failed.
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At the primary day of an inquest into the loss of life, held Monday at the Royal Hotel in Regina, Richelle testified she was the one who discovered the boy within the water.
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She tearfully defined the traumatic state of affairs and puzzled aloud how a lot investigation police had carried out within the hours following the loss of life if it was already deemed unintended on the night information.
As her emotional testimony continued, Richelle instructed her lawyer, Rheana Worme, about how she made efforts to collect extra data from police about their investigation. The inquest heard that after she “camped out” in entrance of the Regina Police Service headquarters, she and different relations had been ultimately given temporary entry to “binders” of fabric associated to the investigation.
Worme put to her that some graffiti associated to the loss of life was reported on a pathway. One scrawled message stated “I killed Haven,” and one other in the identical color chalk was a “tag” that stated “Krafty,” Worme prompt.
Richelle instructed Worme — and later instructed police lawyer ShayAnne Surtees — that she solely realized concerning the graffiti upon viewing the police materials lengthy after her son’s loss of life.
Haven’s mom additionally instructed Worme of a suspicious individual in black garments “watching” her dwelling after the loss of life, which Richelle stated she reported to police. She additionally testified that she went “canvassing around the neighbourhood,” and talked with individuals who stated they’d seen some issues, however stated police hadn’t but spoken to them.
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Richelle testified about “getting the runaround” as she sought data from police and the coroner, telling Worme that she didn’t know if a proper witness assertion was ever taken from her. However, she later acknowledged to her lawyer that she’d given a recorded assertion in January 2016.
Under questions from Surtees, Richelle stated she didn’t recall receiving a variety of calls from police, however stated investigators knew the place she lived.
“Did they show up at my door?” the mom requested Surtees.
Richelle acknowledged that she ultimately was granted conferences with police concerning the investigation however she remained vital of their efforts, questioning aloud how diligent officers had been.
Richelle’s criticism of how her son’s loss of life was dealt with prolonged to the work carried out by medical professionals.
The mom questioned why a contemporary scratch that she testified seeing on her son’s face when she pulled him from the water wasn’t documented in any supplies.
On Tuesday, the inquest heard from Dr. Amer Khalifa, who carried out the post-mortem. He testified that there have been scrapes on each of Haven’s knees however no accidents to the boy’s neck or head.
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No bruising, no scratches, no trauma, he instructed coroner’s counsel Robin Ritter.
After this remark, Richelle rose from her seat.
“There was marks on his elbows and his face!” she insisted, as she hurried out of the room.
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Bloodwork confirmed that hint quantities of the lively chemical in marijuana was present in Haven’s blood. Khalifa testified that whereas results of the substance are “variable,” it could possibly trigger “paranoia” or “irrational behaviour” even in low doses.
However, Dr. Graham Jones, the toxicologist who analyzed the samples, confirmed to Dubois household lawyer Mark Ebert that the bloodwork might say nothing concerning the degree of impairment Haven could have skilled.
“There is THC in the blood, but it was at a very low level, and probably would not cause any particular adverse effect,” he concluded.
Khalifa testified that drowning was “likely” what induced the boy’s loss of life.
Ebert, who challenged Khalifa on a number of fronts, requested whether or not Haven exhibited any signal of “pruning” in his arms or toes, equivalent to one would possibly get from sitting in a bath.
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It wasn’t documented, the doctor responded.
Further, he hadn’t documented any marks on the boy’s higher arm however, when proven a photograph by Ebert, he acknowledged there have been “pink areas” on the arm.
However, Khalifa maintained there was no proof of trauma inflicting loss of life.
Ebert requested whether or not there was a means somebody might be held forcibly below water with out receiving bruising or different proof.
“Maybe,” Khalifa responded.
The inquest is scheduled to proceed Wednesday.
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