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The five-day public inquest into the death of Boden Umpherville begins at King’s Bench Court in Prince Albert on Monday.
In 2023 police shocked Umpherville with stun guns numerous times and struck him multiple times with batons and knees at a traffic stop.
The 40-year-old died after spending nearly a month on life support. The province’s Serious Incident Response Team cleared six Prince Albert police officers of any wrongdoing.
Umpherville’s loved ones dispute those findings.
Chase Sinclair grew up with Umpherville and will be at the inquest.
“It takes a toll on your mental health,” Sinclair previously told CBC News. “It makes your hair stand up, man, when you get pulled over, right? I fear sometimes police more than I fear people in the streets.”
Sinclair has standing at the inquest, which means his lawyer can question witnesses, including police officers.
“There is no justice. We missed that. They made sure of that, right? Justice isn’t an eye from me, but it’s accountability whatever that looks like. Maybe they don’t deserve to be a cop anymore, at the very least,” he said.
A coroner’s inquest is not a criminal proceeding. The jury is asked to determine the facts of the death and make recommendations to prevent similar incidents.
