Coroner Micheal Johnston presided over a coroner’s inquest into the death of an inmate at the Saint John Regional Correctional Centre.Skyler Sappier died after becoming ill inside while serving a sentence.
The inquest sought a fact-finding mission into the cause of the death and what the province can learn for the future.Five jury members from a host of around 60 residents were selected.
Those members overhead the details of his death later at the Saint John Regional Hospital.Moments before the courtroom heard about the days leading up to his death, family members wearing T-shirts with a picture of Sappier held a traditional ceremony.
An honour song with drumming and singling filled the courtroom.Days before he died, Sappier went to registered nurses saying that he felt his lung capacity was at 70 per cent.