PRINCE ALBERT, Sask. — A public inquest into the death of Saul Laliberte, who died while in custody at the Prince Albert Service (PAPS) cells, will be held in Prince Albert in October.
The inquest will be held at the Coronet Hotel in Prince Albert starting Oct. 26 and possibly running until Oct. 30. Coroner Frederick Kovach will preside.
Laliberte, 33, was found unresponsive in his cell on Nov. 7, 2021. EMS was called, and PAPS staff began life-saving efforts. Parkland Ambulance took him to Victoria Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
He had been arrested around 3 p.m. on outstanding warrants without incident and taken to police cells to await a court appearance. About four hours later he was found unresponsive in his cell.
In December 2024, a charge of criminal negligence causing death and failing to provide the necessities of life against veteran PAPS officer Tyson Morash were stayed.
Morash, a 21-year-member of the force, was charged in July 2023 following an investigation by the Saskatoon Police Service (SPS) and the Saskatchewan Coroners Service. In June 2023, SPS recommended to the Crown prosecutor that Morash be charged. He was relieved of his duties at that time with PAPS.
The Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN) held a press conference in July 2023 expressing concerns about the number of deaths of First Nations people in care of the police service.
According to Laliberte’s obituary, he grew up in various places across four provinces, but his childhood homes were in Nipawin, Saskatoon, and Beardy’s Laliberte took various training and courses to be employed as a construction worker and general labourer. He enjoyed listening to music, working out, cooking, watching movies and spending time with family.
