A corner’s inquest into the death of a northern man heard yesterday that what started out as an afternoon of enjoyment four years ago later turned into a night of tragedy.
Doug Clark testified yesterday on the second day of the inquest into the death of 38 year-old Harry Haineault.
He told the six-person jury that he and a small group of friends had been enjoying a few beers on the back deck of a house on the Clearwater River Dene Nation on Sept. 2, 2008, when police arrived.
La Loche RCMP had been attempting to issue a warrant for Harry Haineault’s arrest but Clark said Haineault and another man fled into the bush before they could so.
An on-foot chase began and eventually resulted in a struggle between Constable Jaimie Grant and Haineault.
Grant told the six-person jury that during the struggle Haineault became aggressive and started kicking him while the two were on the ground.
Haineault eventually put the officer’s neck in a “scissor” hold between his legs.
The RCMP officer said both a baton and pepper spray failed to subdue Haineault and he believed the northern man was either trying to reach for his gun, or at least prevent the officer from reaching for it himself, before Grant made the decision to discharge the revolver.
Meantime an emergency medical technician also took the stand.
Dean Herman told a six-person jury that he received the call regarding Haineault shortly after 8:00 p.m. and arrived on the scene at the Clearwater River Dene Nation about 13 to 14 minutes later.
Herman said when he first arrived to the call he found RCMP Cst. Jamie Grant walking back and forth, smoking a cigarette, with his shirt hanging out and vest undone.
He said Grant told him he had shot the 38-year-old Haineault.
Herman said that he then went to Haineault’s body a short distance away and found him with unattached handcuffs on both wrists and no vital signs.
The inquest is scheduled to run through until Friday.