The British Columbia Coroners Service will conduct a Coroner's inquest into the death of Gurmit Singh Sundhu. Sundhu became unresponsive while being taken into custody by Surrey RCMP on June 30, 2005. A Taser was used by police during this incident. Sundhu was taken by ambulance to Surrey Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced deceased.
The inquest will take place at the courtroom at the Office of the Chief Coroner, Metrotower II, #2035 - 4720 Kingsway, Burnaby, from November 14 to 17.
The inquest will allow for the public presentation of all evidence relating to Sundhu's death. Regional Coroner Vincent Stancato and a five-person jury will hear evidence from subpoenaed witnesses in order to determine the facts surrounding this death.
The jury will have the opportunity to make recommendations aimed at preventing deaths under similar circumstances in the future as well as other relevant recommendations.
The incident as reported in The VOICE last year:
Gurmit Singh Sandhu, 41, died while reportedly resisting arrest by Surrey RCMP in his home in the 13400-block of 84A Avenue in Surrey in the early hours of Friday (June 30) following a domestic dispute.
A family member at the residence told The VOICE that Gurmit got married in Canada and then emigrated here from England in 1985. He ran the GNA Autobody Shop in North Vancouver.
Members of the family seemed reluctant to talk about the incident.
Surrey RCMP said that they responded to a 911 call of a domestic dispute.
They said: "Screaming was heard from the residence and the caller was concerned for the safety of the female and children in the residence.
"Police attended and were confronted by a highly agitated and combative 41-year-old male in the residence. The male was seen assaulting a female in the residence. Police attempted to arrest the male who began fighting with them. The officers were unable to control the male, which resulted in an emergency request for additional officers.
"A Conducted Energy Weapon and Oleoresin Capsicum Spray (OC Spray) were deployed in an attempt to bring the male under control. Despite the use of these intervention devices, the male continued to fight. Further physical attempts were made to bring the male under control at which time the members realized he had stopped breathing.
"Officers immediately administered first aid including CPR until Emergency Medical Personnel arrived. The male was transported to hospital for additional treatment. He was later pronounced dead by medical staff."
Surrey RCMP said that as with any death the BC Coroner service will conduct a thorough investigation and that the incident was being treated as an in custody death, which is being investigated by the Integrated Homicide Investigative Team."
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