March 4, 2019
Standing Hearing for Inquest into Death of Richard Kakish
A standing hearing will take place to determine who can participate in the upcoming inquest into the death of Richard Kakish, 44, of Winnipeg.
On Aug. 9, 2017, Kakish was arrested by members of the Winnipeg Police Service and taken to the Winnipeg Remand Centre (WRC). He complained of pain and was taken to Seven Oaks General Hospital for an assessment and returned to WRC on the same day. He continued to report pain on Aug. 10. On the afternoon of Aug. 11, his condition deteriorated and emergency responders were called. Kakish suffered cardiac arrest and was transported to Health Sciences Centre Winnipeg for further treatment, but died in hospital on Aug. 13. The office of the chief medical examiner determined cause of death to be complications resulting from blunt trauma that damaged his spleen.
Under The Fatality Inquiries Act, an inquest has been called by the chief medical examiner. Inquests explore the circumstances and events leading to deaths for the purpose of finding out what, if anything, might be done to prevent similar deaths in the future.
Before the inquest begins, the judge will decide who can participate in the process and question witnesses. Individuals and groups may make an application to be granted standing and participate in the inquest. Those interested in applying for standing should contact Georgia Couturier, inquest counsel, at 204-945-2852 or georgia.couturier@gov.mb.ca by March 15.
The standing hearing will be held on Friday, March 22 at 9 a.m. in courtroom 404 at the Manitoba Law Courts Complex, 408 York Ave., Winnipeg.
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