Inquest set for police involved incident

A public inquest will be held into the death of a man at a remote cabin in the Kootenays five years ago.

Fourty-five year-old Peter de Groot was killed by police in a cabin near Slocan in October 2014, a few days after he disappeared into the bush following a confrontation with police.

The Independent Investigation Office eventually released a report last year finding an officer was justified in shooting de Groot after he was reported to have raised a rifle as the Mountie opened a cabin door.

The inquest will start May 19 in Rossland.

“Presiding coroner Chico Newell and a jury will hear evidence from witnesses under oath to determine the facts surrounding this death. The jury will have the opportunity to make recommendations aimed at preventing deaths under similar circumstances. A jury must not make any finding of legal responsibility or express any conclusion of law,” said a news release from the Coroner’s Service.

An inquest is a formal process that allows for public presentation of evidence relating to a death.

The jury will certify the identity of the deceased and how, where, when and by what means death occurred.