Inquest planned into Iqaluit woman's death

Nunavut's coroner will hold an inquest into the death of an Iqaluit woman earlier this year, family members confirmed to CBC News on Tuesday.

Elisapee Michael, 52, died of head injuries in an Ottawa hospital on Aug. 13, four days after she fell down the front stairs of the Nova Inn in Iqaluit.

Michael was initially admitted to the Qikiqtani General Hospital in the Nunavut capital, but she was handed over to RCMP after hospital staff decided she was intoxicated.

She then spent about 14 hours in an RCMP detachment cell before she was brought back to the hospital, then taken to Ottawain amedical evacuation, according to the family.

Familywantspublic inquiry

Nunavut coroner Tim Neily is expected to release more details about the inquest once an official notice is made public, which could be as early as Wednesday.

Lawyer Scott Wheildon saidMichael's family will continue to push for a full public inquiry into her death.

"We're looking for a public inquiry, greater in scope ... in order to assign responsibility," said Wheildon, who is representing the family.

"Without the assignment of responsibility into this particular matter, the family will not know who's responsible and the public will not know who's responsible."

Wheildon said a coroner's inquest does not preclude the possibility of a public inquiry later.