ESTEVAN, Sask. — The first day of the public inquest is underway at the Western Star Hotel in Estevan for the November 2023 death of Justice Guillas.
The hearing started in the morning of Nov. 2 with jury selection. Multiple witnesses provided testimony during the day.
Additional witnesses are expected to answer questions in the morning of Nov. 3. Then the jury is expected to receive its instructions and begin deliberations.
The inquiry is slated to continue until Nov. 6.
Guillas, 19, was arrested by the Estevan Police Service (EPS) on Nov. 1, 2023 in connection with the death of his mother Karie Ann Guillas. While at the police station, an altercation took place, Guillas shot a member of the EPS, who survived the incident, and Guillas was then shot by another EPS officer.
EPS officers provided lifesaving measures until Estevan Emergency Medical Services (EMS) 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 if a person 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 jury may make recommendations to prevent similar deaths.
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