Lee Bonneau inquest: Week 1 summary

While she didn’t testify herself, she was present in the courtroom at Regina’s Court of Queen’s Bench as Lee’s parents – David Bonneau and Stacey Merk – were forced to recall the events leading to his death.

Merk went through a lot of tissues over the week, taking the stand herself on the first day, having to painfully recall the day the Ministry of Social Services took her boy away after she made a suicide threat.

David was asked about the day he found out about Lee’s death. He fought to maintain his composure while explaining how two RCMP officers knocked on his back door to tell him his son had been murdered.

He testified that Social Services ripped his family apart and insisted changes have to be made so this doesn’t happen again.

We found out in day two of the inquest why Lee was taken from his family and put into foster care. His case supervisor explained how there were not only concerns over Merk’s mental state, but also what was referred to as “domestic disharmony” between Lee’s parents.

The boy was said to have shown sexual aggressive behaviour believed to have been learned by being subjected to it at home, even as only a witness. Both Merk and David denied any abuse towards their son.

The inquest also heard details surrounding how Lee disappeared from his foster mother Mary Ramstead on a teary-eyed day three. Ramstead had taken Lee to bingo with her when he went missing. He was found severely beaten two hours later. Thomas Alexson fought hard, but unsuccessfully, to hold back tears as he described finding the young boy. He held his hand and tried to comfort him until paramedics arrived.

A forensic pathologist took the stand to describe how Lee had died from blunt force trauma to the head. His skull had been fractured in multiple locations, comparing the force of the beating to something in a car crash might experience.

RCMP believe a 10-year-old boy is responsible for killing Lee. The inquest is referring to him simply as LT since he is a minor. Because of his age, he can never be charged in the crime. Officers testified that when they told him Lee had died, he did not react.

More employees from Social Services testified, including Lee’s case worker Alicia Ward. She suggested she was overworked around the time Lee died, admitting her office is short staffed. Ward revealed that services for families in rural Saskatchewan are almost non-existent compared to urban centres.

“It’s a deeply flawed system,” said Celia.

“I really do believe there needs to be systemic change. It is so deep that it’s going to take virtually a miracle to unravel all of this.”

The inquest is scheduled to last two weeks. The focus of week two is expected to shift more on LT and the Yorkton Tribal Council, which was providing services for his family.

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by Kevin Martel

Lee Bonneau inquest: Week 1 summary

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