Independent review to include fourth death at N.L. jail: justice minister
By The Canadian Press
ST. JOHN’S, N.L. – Newfoundland and Labrador’s justice minister says an independent review of deaths in provincial jails will include the most recent death at Her Majesty’s Penitentiary in St. John’s, N.L.
Christopher Wade Sutton died suddenly on Saturday in his cell, the fourth death in provincial jails since last August.
Retired police Supt. Marlene Jesso is examining policies, procedures, and how corrections staff have responded to the deaths, and Justice Minister Andrew Parsons says that review will include Sutton’s death.
The review is to start once investigations by the RCMP and chief medical examiner conclude.
Police say an inmate at the Clarenville Correctional Centre for Women died in May, but offered no details on the cause or circumstances.
About a month earlier, a 27-year-old woman died at the same facility, with police saying she had choked on food.
And on Aug. 31, a 37-year-old male inmate at Her Majesty’s Penitentiary died. Police did not indicate the death was suspicious.
