May 30, 2022
Standing Hearing for Inquest into Death of Lawrence Beaulieu
A standing hearing will take place to determine who can participate in the upcoming inquest into the death of Lawrence Daniel Beaulieu, 27, of Ebb and Flow First Nation.
On Oct. 30, 2020, Beaulieu was arrested in his home by Ste. Rose du Lac RCMP as a result of allegations he threatened others while waving around a machete on the same date. Beaulieu was eventually subdued and placed in handcuffs and a spit sock, as he was attempting to spit on officers. At the RCMP detachment, he resisted being placed in a cell and had to be subdued and taken to the ground to remove his handcuffs. Once the handcuffs were removed, he was noted to be unresponsive but still breathing. He stopped breathing shortly after and resuscitation at the scene and the hospital was unsuccessful.
Beaulieu died that same day and the cause of death was determined to be cardiac arrhythmia due to methamphetamine toxicity. Another contributing factor, not causally related to the immediate cause of death, was the physiologic stress of struggle and restraint by police.
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 Shane Smith, inquest counsel, at 204-330-6096 or shane.smith@gov.mb.ca by June 14.
The standing hearing will be held on June 21 at 10 a.m. in courtroom 408 at the Manitoba Law Courts Complex, 408 York Ave., Winnipeg.
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