The lawyer who represented an inmate who died at Her Majesty’s Penitentiary, and now that man’s family, is calling for a public inquiry into the death.

Bob Buckingham was Jonathan Henoche’s lawyer up until November of 2019, when the Inuk man died after an altercation with guards.

Buckingham now represents the Henoche family.

He says the unanswered questions and unexplained mistakes demand a deeper investigation into the actions of correctional officers, but also the Crown, not to mention the larger systemic issues at the Pen.

He says the reasons given yesterday for not pursuing the case were inaccurate, adding he’s shocked that the Crown refuses to appeal the judge’s decision to dismiss all charges against the guards.

Buckingham has already filed a civil lawsuit against the government in the case, alleging negligence, breach of public office and racism.

The province has filed a defence denying any wrongdoing.