A formal investigation has commenced to review the circumstances surrounding the tragic death of Regis Korchinski-Paquet, a Toronto resident who fell from a balcony in a high-rise building while police were present over six years ago. Korchinski-Paquet, aged 29 and of Ukrainian, Black, and Indigenous descent, passed away on May 27, 2020, following police intervention during a family dispute at her apartment. The inquiry is focusing on how law enforcement and emergency responders are educated about epilepsy, taking into account Korchinski-Paquet’s epilepsy diagnosis and prior seizures on the day of her demise.
The investigation will address the handling of situations involving “postictal delirium,” a potential state affecting individuals after a seizure, without delving into broader mental health issues, psychiatric care, or inquiries conducted by police oversight bodies. The tragic loss of Korchinski-Paquet, as stated by Roger Shallow, underscores the profound impact on her family, irrespective of the inquiry’s findings.
Korchinski-Paquet’s death occurred amidst heightened tensions following the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, prompting widespread protests and renewed calls to reallocate police funding. The incident also raised concerns about law enforcement interactions with individuals in mental health crises.
The Special Investigations Unit of Ontario cleared the Toronto police of any wrongdoing in Korchinski-Paquet’s death, determining that the fatal fall occurred as she attempted to move between balconies. The ongoing inquest, set to span 14 days with 15 anticipated witnesses, includes Korchinski-Paquet’s immediate family members and several officers who were present during the incident.
Although the jury in the inquest does not assign criminal blame, it can propose measures to prevent similar incidents in the future. However, the chief coroner’s office lacks the authority to enforce these recommendations. On the anniversary of Korchinski-Paquet’s passing, her parents and advocates called for inquest recommendations to be binding and promptly enacted. Korchinski-Paquet’s mother, Claudette Beals, also advocated for an alternate mechanism to investigate police misconduct allegations, expressing skepticism about internal police investigations.
During a press conference at the provincial legislature, Beals emphasized the lack of accountability in her daughter’s case, stating, “My daughter’s been gone for six years and no one’s held responsible for that.”