The preliminary inquiry for 10 guards charged in the death of an inmate at Her Majesty’s Penitentiary is hearing from the province’s chief medical examiner today.
Dr. Nash Denic’s testimony could be pivotal in determine if there’s enough evidence for all 10 correctional officers to stand trial. All evidence presented at the inquiry is banned from publication.
Thirty-three-year-old Jonathan Henoche died at HMP in November 2019 following an altercation involving the guards.
(Jonathan Henoche via Facebook)
At the time, Henoche was awaiting his own trial for first-degree murder in the 2016 killing of an elderly woman in Happy Valley-Goose Bay.
The preliminary inquiry is taking place at the former school for the deaf in St. John’s due to spacing issues amid the pandemic.
(File photo.)
Three of the officers are charged with manslaughter, while one of them faces an additional charge of failure to provide the necessities of life. The other seven each face a single charge of criminal negligence causing death.
They have all remained free on conditions and suspended with pay from their jobs.
The inquiry, now into its fourth full day, is expected to last 10 days in total.
