Chantel Moore’s family attorney, TJ Burke, does not believe the coroner’s investigation will shed any light on the 26-year-old’s death.
Chantel Moore’s family has been attending all of the testimonies since the beginning of its coroner Emily Caissy’s inquest hearings. Their attorney, TJ Burke, believes this investigation is important, as we have learned important elements and information that are not available until now.
But TJ Burke was also quick to point out the limitations of this type of survey. Testimonies are relatively quick, compared to what happens in the context of a criminal trial. Most importantly, witnesses do not have to face cross-examination.
It was more of a public relations exercise, as the government, at the time, decided to have an inquiry after pressure by First Nations leaders for a full investigation into systematic discrimination.attorney TJ Burke believes.
The limitations of this type of investigation are significant, according to the family attorney. Does it matter? Yes. But does that give us a real, complete picture, lots of cross-examination, an opportunity for the family to present documents? No.he concludes.
A bullet to the left killed Chantel Moore
At Wednesday’s hearings, pathologist Marek Godlewski, who examined Chantel Moore’s body, described in detail the injuries sustained.
According to him, the bullet that killed the girl was the one that hit her left side, where the collarbone meets the sternum.
Martha Martin, Chantal Moore’s mother, had a hard time listening to this testimony.
He was obviously angry, and his relatives accompanied him out of the courtroom.
Chantel Moore was drinking, but not drunk
Toxicologist James Wigmore, who also spoke Wednesday, estimated Chantel Moore drank the equivalent of five beers the night she died. He has 137 mg of alcohol per 100 ml of blood, he said. For comparison, the legal limit for driving is 80 mg per 100 ml of blood.
According to the toxicologist, Chantel Moore was not drunk before she died. He believes that those who do not know him may not have been aware that he had been drinking.
James Wigmore said the effects of alcohol are drowsiness and decreased vision. For example, he may have focused his gaze on the police flashlight, without him seeing the surroundings.
He thinks that by the time cop Jeremy Son wakes him up, it probably looks like someone is coming out of a deep sleep.
Regarding the order to drop his knife, issued by police officer Jeremy Son, the toxicologist believes the reaction may have been slower, but not as much.
The chief inspector explained his role
During the hearings, the chief inspector of the Bureau of Independent Investigations of Quebec (BEI) François Coiteau provided some details about the investigation.
After negotiations between the governments of New Brunswick and Quebec, the investigation into Chantel Moore’s death was handed over to EIB June 4 at 2 pm Quebec investigators immediately headed to New Brunswick, and arrived in Edmundston on the night of June 4 at 10 p.m.
ang EIB supervised the entire investigation. A team of seven investigators went to Edmundston. Chief investigator François Coiteau pointed out that EIB submitted two reports to New Brunswick prosecutors, but made no recommendation on whether to file a lawsuit or not. ang EIB no comments or suggestions, he said.
François Coiteau said the examination did not reveal the presence of powder from the gun on Chantel Moore’s dress. The investigator explained that in optimal conditions inside the house, the police gun leaves traces of powder at a distance of one and a half meters. But the investigator said it was difficult to determine if the officer was more than a meter and a half away, because the event took place outside.
Regarding the knife allegedly held by Chantel Moore, Detective Coiteau read an excerpt from the expert’s report saying he was unable to make a fingerprint comparison because of lack of sharpness. But the position of the prints indicates that someone wrapped the knife with their right hand.
Source: Radio-Canada
