Indexed as:
Coroner's Inquest Into The Death of Negus Topey

IN THE MATTER pursuant to Section 31 and 10(4) of The Coroner's Act, R.S.O. 1990 c. C-37

Coroner's Court
Madam Coroner K.A. ACHESON

Heard: May 2, 2005
Oral Ruling: May 02, 2005
(1 para.)

APPEARANCES: Robert Ash, Q.C., for the Crown;
Selwyn Pieters for the Black Action Defense Committee;
George Cowley for the Chief of Police, Toronto Police Service;
K. Roach for Simonne Topey;
Rita Maxwell for Drs. Vello Tooming, A. Feigenbaum, A. Freitag, M. Springle, and D. Sterling;
Adam Stephens for Milton District Hospital, Sick Kids Hospital, Oakville-Trafalgar Memorial Hospital and McMaster University Medical Centre;
William Manuel and Lynette DeSousa for H.M.Q. and Maplehurst Correctional Complex.

RULING

ś 1 Having due regard to the scope of the inquest, which I have determined based on the investigation that was made for the Coroner by members of the Halton Police Service, I am persuaded that a reasonable person could conclude that there might be a systemic factor at play at some point in the management of Mr. Topey's illness. I therefore do grant the Black Action Defence Committee standing and I accept that they have a unique expertise and that there is a potentially significant area of systemic racism to be explored at this inquest.

Acheson, K.J.