The Tribune

By SANCHESKA BROWN

Tribune Staff Reporter

sbrown@tribunemedia.net

THE CORONER’S inquest into the death of Jamie Smith was delayed yesterday due to witnesses not being present and one of the lawyers claiming not to have received documents he needed to proceed.

The inquest was scheduled to proceed at 2pm but due to a series of delays, it will not begin until 9.45am today, when the jury is expected to the selected.

Smith, 35, died at the Central Detective Unit within two hours of his arrest on suspicion of armed robbery on February 8, 2013.

Police have never revealed the circumstances surrounding his death.

Four officers from the station, Sergeant Ezra Maycock, Corporal Brian Roach, Corporal Sterling Knowles and Sergeant Keno Smith, have been placed on administrative leave. A pathologist report later concluded that Smith died of asphyxia, an excess of carbon dioxide caused by abnormal breathing.

Acting Coroner Jeanine Weech-Gomez is overseeing the inquiry. Attorney Christina Galanos is representing Smith’s immediate family and lawyers Wayne Munroe and Ian Cargill are representing the officers.

The coroner’s court does not determine guilt or make any findings or suggestions of criminal, civil, or disciplinary liability.

The role of the court is to determine who the deceased was, how the deceased died, when, where and by what means.

After the case is completed a copy of the findings will be given to the Attorney General, who decides how the matter will go from there.