Inquest Recommendation

After only two hours of deliberation, a recommendation has been made in the Coroner’s Inquest looking into the death of a Penticton man.

Albert William Nemechek, 76, was taken into police custody in October of 2004 for violations of the Liquor Control Act. He went into cardiac arrest while being transported by the RCMP and died of natural causes in hospital a few weeks later.

An inquest is standard procedure whenever someone dies in police custody. A jury listens to the facts of the case and makes recommendations to the coroner on how similar situations should be handled in the future, without assigning guilt to anyone involved in the case.

The jury, four men and one woman, heard evidence and testimony from witnesses at the Penticton city council chambers on Wednesday.

Just before noon on Thursday, they came back with a recommendation.

They have suggested in the future anyone who goes into cardiac arrest while in police custody should be taken to the nearest hospital so a toxicology test can be performed.

The recommendation was given to presiding coroner T.E. Chico Newell, who will take it to the Interior Health Authority and the Chief Coroner’s office.