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Coroner’s jury hears evidence in inquest into police shooting of Indigenous N.B. man

Sep 29, 2021 | 6:44 AM

MIRAMICHI, N.B. — A five-member coroner’s jury is beginning to hear evidence today at an inquest into the police killing last year of an Indigenous man in New Brunswick.

Rodney Levi, who was from the Metepenagiag First Nation, was shot dead by the RCMP on the evening of June 12, 2020 after police responded to a complaint about a disturbance in a home in Sunny Corner, N.B.

The shooting was investigated by Quebec’s police watchdog, the Bureau des enquêtes indépendantes, which submitted a report to New Brunswick prosecutors in December.

A statement at the time from the provincial prosecutions service said it was clear the officers on the scene believed Levi was using force against them, and he was shot to protect themselves and civilians who were present.

Coroner John Evans says he expects to hear from about 27 witnesses between now and Thursday of next week.

A coroner’s inquest does not assign blame but produces recommendations intended to help prevent a death under similar circumstances.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 29, 2021.

The Canadian Press