Inquest into death of woman shot by police begins

An inquest begins this morning in Yellowknife into the death of a woman who was shot by police in Yellowknife last year.

Police say the 42-year-old woman was suicidalwhen she pointed a gun at them.

"She started to run and as she came towards them, three members of the emergency response team discharged their firearms," says Chief Coroner Cathy Menard.

She died after being shot four times by police.

As part of the inquest, ajury of six people will consider testimony from 35 witnesses; including: eyewitnesses, RCMP, social workers and doctors who treated Lander.

"I think it's going to provide a very broad spectrum of the care and what she was receiving and what was happening in her life," says Menard. She says they will also hear from an expert on the use of force.

Since the incident, policy and procedures surrounding the use of force in Canada has been a concern, says Menard.

The inquest is expected to run for eight days.

Menard says the jury isn't there to assign blame, but they can make recommendations for ways to prevent similar deaths in the future.