Public inquiry into the circumstances of Samwel Uko’s death will begin on Monday. The body of the 20-year-old footballer was found lifeless near Wascana Lake on May 21, 2020.
From Abbotsford, British Columbia, Samwel Uko visited his aunt in Regina when she died. His family declared it suicidal.
Saskatchewan coroner Robert Kennedy will lead the public inquest, which is scheduled to take place from May 30 to June 3 at the Ramada Hotel in Regina, and could last until June 6.
The investigation should look at the place and time of his death, the medical causes as well as the manner in which Samwel Uko died.
The coroner will make recommendations to prevent similar deaths in the future.
The Chief Coroner for Saskatchewan may decide to investigate any deaths that have occurred in the province.
The inquest into the death of Samwel Uko was scheduled to take place in September 2021, but was delayed due to COVID-19.
Prior to his death, Samwel Uko twice sought help at Regina General Hospital for mental health issues. On his second pass, security video showed him being forcibly escorted out of the facility, shouting: No, I have psychological issues.
The young man, who played a season of football with the University of Saskatchewan Huskies, was found dead nearly an hour later.
The Saskatchewan Health Authority eventually offered an apology to Samwel Uko’s family and, in a legal document, admitted that it had failed in its duty to provide him with care. The organization paid $ 81,000 in damages to the family.
Source: Radio-Canada
