Lawyer questions why corrections official did 'off the record' interview with Errol Greene inquest witness

The lawyer representing Errol Greene's widow at the inquest into his death at the Winnipeg Remand Centre wants to know why a Manitoba corrections official did an "off the record" interview with an incarcerated witness prior to the inquest.

Lawyer CoreyShefmansaid the interview by the assistant superintendent of MilnerRidge Correctional Centre, which was not recorded on audio or video, was conducted in December at the correctional centre.

The witness who was interviewed, Michael Redhead, is scheduled to testify at the inquest on Wednesday. He was in the Winnipeg Remand Centre at the time of Greene's death.

Greene, who had epilepsy, had two seizures at the remand centre and died on May 1, 2016.

The inquest, called by the chief medical officer to determine the circumstances and events leading to Greene's death, began last Monday.

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Shefmanraised his concerns about the assistant superintendent'sinterview with the witnessto Judge HeatherPullanon Friday, at the end of the first week of the inquest. He said witness interviews are typically conducted by inquest counsel, not by parties with standing.

He told the courtRedhead approached Greene's widow, RochellePranteau, last year and gave her a handwritten statement of what he saw in the remand centre when Greene died.

ShefmansaidPranteaugave him that note on Dec. 21, 2017, and henotifiedinquest counsel and the lawyers for Manitoba Justice.

"The problem was that the corrections officer went to him and said 'I want to take a statement from you,'" Shefmantold CBC News in an interview Friday.

"And when you're a prisoner in jail, it's very difficult for you to say no when the second-in-command of the institution says they want to take a statement from you."

Sean Boyd, who is the lawyer for Manitoba Justice at the inquest, responded in court on Friday toShefman'sconcern, saying "there is nothing sinister about it."

Boyd said it is normal for staff to go and talk to inmates when matters like this come up.

"[Redhead] gave a statement relatively similar to the note," said Boyd.

"Mr. Redhead communicated to Rochellethat he felt intimidatedand that he felt that he was afraid of what would happen to him as a result of his testimony, and I communicated that to the other lawyers," Shefmantold CBCNews.

Shefmantold the court he had no evidence that intimidation has taken place, but wanted what heperceivesas a conflict on the inquest record.

Redhead is currently being held atHeadingleyCorrectional Centre.

"I am confident the lawyers for corrections will ensure that their client will protect Mr. Redhead and treat with the respect he is owed both as a human being and as a witness in the inquest," Shefmantold CBCNews.