ESTEVAN, Sask. — The Government of Saskatchewan has announced a public inquest into the death of Justice Guillas will be held from Nov. 2-6, at the Western Star Hotel in Estevan.
The first day of the inquest is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. Subsequent start times will be determined by the presiding coroner.
Guillas, 19, was arrested by the Estevan Police Service (EPS) on Nov. 1, 2023. While at the police station, an altercation took place, Guillas shot a member of the EPS and he was then shot by an EPS officer.
Members provided lifesaving measures until Estevan Emergency Medical Services arrived and took over his care. He was transported to St. Joseph's Hospital and then to the Regina General Hospital. Guillas died during surgery at 3:50 p.m. on Nov. 1.
Section 20 of The Coroners Act, 1999 states that the chief coroner will hold an inquest into the death of a person who dies while an inmate at a jail or a correctional facility, unless the coroner is satisfied that the person's death was due entirely to natural causes and was not preventable.
The Saskatchewan Coroners Service is responsible for the investigation of all sudden, unexpected deaths. The purpose of an inquest is to establish who died, when and where that person died, and the medical cause and manner of death. The coroner's jury may make recommendations to prevent similar deaths.
Coroner Brent Gough, K.C. will preside at the inquest.
