MERRILL INQUEST

An inquest into the death of Michael Merrill will be held November 27-29, 2007, at 10 a.m. at the Prince Albert Queen's Bench Courthouse, 1800 Central Avenue.

Mr. Merrill, aged 52 years, died December 13, 2005, while in custody at the Saskatchewan Penitentiary in Prince Albert.

Section 20 of The Coroners Act, 1999, states that the Chief Coroner shall hold an inquest into the death of a person who dies while an inmate at a jail or a correctional facility, unless the coroner is satisfied that the person's death was due entirely to natural causes and was not preventable.

In addition to establishing who died, when and where the individual died, the medical cause of death and the manner of death, the coroner's jury may make recommendations to prevent similar deaths in the future. Inquests are open to the public.

Coroner Jeff Grubb of Regina will preside at the inquest.

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For more information, contact:

Debi McEwen
Justice
Regina
Phone: 306-787-6043
Email: dmcewen@justice.gov.sk.ca