Lawyers confident Bonneau inquest findings can be done
Two weeks of testimony has led jurors at the coroner’s inquest into Lee Bonneau’s death to develop 19 recommendations to prevent a similar tragedy in the future.
But just how those are implemented and when they might turn into policy is something that has yet to be determined.
The inquest was called after the six-year-old was beaten to death on the Kahkewistahaw First Nation in August 2013, suspected to be at the hands of a 10-year-old boy. Both boys were either in the care of or receiving support from social services at the time.
On Friday, the inquest concluded after nearly 30 witnesses testified and gave their account of the circumstances leading up to Lee’s untimely death. After hearing the evidence and deliberating for several hours the six-person jury revealed their recommendations, which are directed towards the Ministry of Social Services (MSS), the Yorkton Tribal Council Child and Family Services (YTCCFS) and the RCMP. They centre around better information sharing and record keeping, better incentives for rural foster parents, and more funding for specialized support staff on First Nations.