All-Aboriginal Jury Chosen For Haineault Inquest
Monday, October 18, 2010 at 14:20
A jury has been chosen for the coroner’s inquest into the RCMP shooting death of a northern Saskatchewan man two years ago.
Thirty-eight-year-old Harry Haineault was shot by police on the Clearwater River Dene Nation on September 2nd, 2008.
According to the RCMP, Haineault fled from a house on the reserve shortly after officers arrived with an arrest warrant.
The Mounties say one of the pursuing officers eventually caught up to Haineault and shot him after the two got into a struggle.
Cst. Ryan Boogaard testified today that his partner, Cst. Jamie Grant, had blood on him and two bumps on his forehead when he found him in some woods after the shooting.
Boogaard also said Grant looked dishevelled and was sweating profusely, while Haineault was lying face down on the ground with one arm extended and a wrist handcuffed.
According to Boogaard, Grant told him that he had to shoot Haineault.
Boogaard also said he saw Haineault’s upper body jolt, but when he went to check for a pulse, there wasn’t one.
Grant testified that Haineault tried to run away, so he tackled him.
Grant said he tried everything he could to subdue Haineault — including pepper spray and a baton — but nothing worked.
He said he even punched him a couple of times in the face.
Grant also testified Haineault had his head in a scissor lock and was choking him.
Grant said he felt like he was going to die, so as a last resort, he shot Haineault.
First Nations leaders have questioned the need for the RCMP to take Haineault’s life.
All four women and two men chosen this morning to sit on the jury are of Aboriginal ancestry.
The five-day inquest is taking place in Meadow Lake.