Inquest into Iqaluit woman's death delayed

The family of an Iqaluit woman who died after spending hours in RCMP custody is disappointed that a coroner's inquest will not begin next week as planned.

Elisapee Michael, 52, died of head injuries on Aug. 13, 2009, four days after she had fallen down the front stairs of the NovaHotel in Iqaluit. She spent about 14 hours in police custodyafter Iqaluit hospital staff allegedly deemed her to be intoxicated.

An inquest into Michael's death was supposed to start on Nov. 22, but the Nunavut coroner's office says it needs more time before the inquest can begin.

"This matter has gone on for some time, and the family would like a resolution to it," Scott Wheildon, a lawyer representing Michael's family, told CBC News.

Acting chief coroner Padma Suramala said she expects the inquest to proceed in February, although no date has been officially set.

"The inquest has not been postponed. We have been and continue to work diligently on this file," Suramala said.

"The quantity of material is much greater than originally anticipated, and we therefore require some more time to provide an accurate and thorough inquest."

Family wants new date set: lawyer

According to her family, Michael was initially admitted to Qikiqtani General Hospital in Iqaluit, but she was handed over to the RCMP after hospital staff allegedly determined that she was intoxicated and disruptive.

Michael spent about 14 hours in an RCMP detachment cell before she was brought back to the hospital, family members have said. She was then medevaced to an Ottawa hospital, where she later died.

Wheildon said Michael's family wants a new date to be set for the coroner's inquest as soon as possible.

"I can tell you that the family's extremely disappointed with this, but is still hopeful that this matter will be dealt with expeditiously at a coroner's inquest," he said.

"However, the family is upset that there has been no new date set in relation to this matter."

In announcing the inquest in October 2009, then-coroner Tim Neily saidan inquest would be mandatory in Michael's case because her detention by police could have played a role in her death.