URL: https://www.indianz.com/News/archives/001617.asp

Wednesday, September 24, 2003

Two police officers have testified in the inquiry into the death of a Native teen whose body was found in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, in 1990.

Rene Lagimodiere was the first officer on the scene. He said that he determined there was no foul play even though Neil Stonechild, 17, was found on the outskirts of town. Autopsy photos showed Stonechild suffered severe injuries, possibly from a beating.

Another officer, Kevin Lewis, testified that he arrested a key witness in the inquiry. Jason Roy said he last saw Stonechild in the back of a police cruiser saying police were going to kill him. Lewis said Roy gave a different statement when booked for a theft at a later date.

The coroner who examined Stonechild's body testified. He determined that Stonechild died of exposure to the cold but said he saw nothing unusual with the body, so he didn't call for an inquest.

Get the Story:
Officer ruled out foul play (The Saskatoon StarPhoenix 9/23)
Stonechild Coroner didn't see need for inquest (CBC 9/23)
Police officer takes stand at Stonechild inquiry (CBC 9/23)
Corrections worker info on Stonechild ignored (CBC 9/22)

Relevant Links:
Stonechild Inquiry - http://www.stonechildinquiry.ca
Starlight Tours, from the CBC - http://cbc.ca/national/magazine/starlight/index.html

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Inquiry into Native teen's death shown photos (9/18)
Police lawyers try to discredit inquiry witness (9/15)
Witness in inquiry of Native teen's death scrutinized (9/12)
Witness says he went to police about teen's death (9/11)
Witness says Native teen last seen with police (9/10)
Inquiry into death of Native teen opens in Sask. (9/9)
Sask. panel holding hearings on death of Native teen (9/8)
Police chief admits Natives were abandoned (06/10)
Native family wants inquiry into son's death (6/9)
Native author documents police brutality case (05/06)
White cops report to jail for brutality incident (03/14)
Death of Aboriginal man to be investigated (02/20)
Can. court hears appeal of convicted cops (01/21)
Former cops appeal conviction (12/10)
White cops denied Native justice (12/4)
White cops want Native justice (10/31)
Officers found guilty for abandoning Native man(9/21)
Officers admit abandoning Native man (9/19)
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Hearing held for accused cop (9/12)
Racial tensions rise over police harassment (5/04)
First Nations say police charges don't go far enough (4/13)
Officers charged in Saskatoon (4/12)

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