Moms' emotional statements open Ontario inquest for 7 Maplehurst inmates after overdose deaths

The coroner's inquest into the deaths of seven inmates from drug overdoses while they were incarcerated at Maplehurst Correctional Complex in Milton, Ont., began Monday morning with emotional statements from the men's families being read to the jury.

The men died either at Maplehurst or after transfer to Halton Healthcare between June 2017 and October 2019.

Their names and dates of death are:

• Wesley Da Silva, 40, of Cambridge, Oct. 4, 2019.
• Cory Hemstead, 31, of Brampton, June 19, 2029.
• Shawn Irvine, 38, of Kitchener, Oct. 29, 2018.
• Derek Johne, 28, of Magnetawan, June 20, 2017.
• Curtis McGowan, 32, of Guelph, Oct. 6, 2017.
• Peter Ormond, 38, of Kitchener, Sept. 25, 2017.
• Rattanbir Sidhu, 23, of Cambridge, May 7, 2019.

The inquest, being held virtually, is set to hear from 25 witnesses over 13 days.

It began in the morning with inquest counsel Jai Dhar reading the families' statements, starting with one from Da Silva's mother, Liz.

She described her son as a magnetic person who loved animals.

He was supposed to be safe. He was there to pay for his wrongdoings, not to die there.- Mother of Wesley Da Silva, Maplehurst inmate who died in 2019

"Wesley was my only child, the love of my life, my precious gift," she said.

Da Silva also wrote about her anger for the system, which she believes should have kept her son safe.

"I did not get to hold him, nor did I get to hold his hand, nor did I get to say goodbye," Da Silva's statement read.

"He was supposed to be safe. He was there to pay for his wrongdoings, not to die there."

Da Silva's sentiment was echoed by Cathy Johne, Derek's mother.

In her statement, Johne described her dismay with staff at the jail.

"Derek was in custody. He was supposed to be safe," the statement read.

Johne said her son was in custody often, but that provided some comfort.

"I was always thankful when he was in jail because I believed he was safe, not overdosing on the street somewhere," she wrote.

She said Derek wanted to get better, and he was tired of his life in and out of jail.

"My son needed help, but instead he got drugs," she wrote, adding, "He thought he was going to be released in a few days, but instead, we had his funeral."

In Ontario, inquests into deaths while in custody are mandatory under the Coroners Act.

Maplehurst Correctional Complex holds about 1,500 inmates in medium and maximum security. The inquest will examine the circumstances surrounding the men's deaths and the jury may then make recommendations aimed at preventing further deaths.

Amber McPherson, McGowan's sister, is among those expected to speak before the jury.

In an interview with CBC News when the inquest was called in April, she said it's important people know her brother was more than just an addict who died in jail.

"I would like to keep Curtis's name going because he was somebody. He could have gotten better. Like people say, maybe he's in a better place because he's not suffering now. But that's not what I believe," she said.

"Nothing is going to bring him back, but I feel like we deserve answers. The whole family is going to be part of the Zoom. And we're going to bring pictures and we're going to just fight. Curtis was a good guy. He was hilarious. He had a big heart. He was like a big teddy bear."

The main goals of inquests is to publicly examine the circumstances surrounding the deaths. The jury is tasked with identifying potential safety issues and may make recommendations to prevent future similar deaths.