Silverfox's state discussed at inquest

A Yukon coroner's inquest has heard conflicting testimony on how intoxicated Raymond Silverfox was when RCMP took him into custody in December 2008, hours before he died.

Whitehorse RCMP found the 43-year-old Carmacks man unresponsive in his holding cell on Dec. 2, 2008, about 12 hours after he had been arrested at a local shelter. Silverfox was later pronounced dead in hospital.

The coroner's inquest is required to take place when people die in police custody.

Since the inquest began on Thursday, the panel has heard that Silverfox had been drinking vodka in the hours before he was picked up at the Salvation Army shelter around 5 a.m. PT.

On Friday, shelter worker Judy Lightening testified that Silverfox was "really, really intoxicated" and unable to focus or answer her questions.

Lightening described Silverfox as "a perfect gentleman" who was acting "like a zombie" at the time, so she called the ambulance.

Ambulance crew found him responsive

But ambulance attendant Andrew McCann told the inquest that Silverfox appeared aware and responsive, although clearly intoxicated.

McCann described Silverfox as "very polite" and "very cordial."

Another ambulance attendant, Jillian Smith, said Thursday that Silverfox was drunk but polite, cooperative and alert, with normal vital signs.

Silverfox was found slumped in a chair at the shelter, with a pool of clear vomit at his feet, Smith said.

When the RCMP arrived 15 minutes later, Silverfox did not have any problems standing or walking, Smith said.

Refused to go to hospital

Silverfox told Smith he had no relatives in Whitehorse, nor did he have money for a hotel room. He also was not dressed appropriately for the weather, Smith recalled.

Smith testified that she urged Silverfox to go to the hospital, but he refused.

Susan Roothman, a lawyer for the Silverfox family then asked Smith why she did not take Silverfox's temperature or transport him to the hospital, suggesting that Smith treated the man differently because he was aboriginal.

But Smith said a person's temperature is not taken when other signs are normal. She added that she would have preferred to take Silverfox to the hospital, but he was a mentally competent adult who did not want to go there.

The inquest continues into next week.