Inmate on remand dies after being assaulted at Saskatoon Correctional Centre

Aman being held at the Saskatoon Correctional Centre has died after beingassaulted more than a week ago.

Cornell Henry, who was being held in custody while awaiting the court process, was assaulted Oct. 23.

"His cell was checked and it was determined thathe was in a level of distress," said Drew Wilby, Ministry of Justice spokesperson.

Wilby said staff called 911 and he was taken to the Royal University Hospital, where hedied Thursday.

"The attack occurred quite quickly," Wilby said.

While he couldn't say exactly when it happened, he said it was after cells were unlockedand likelysometimeafter breakfast.

The two-level remandunit was put onlockdownfor a period of time after Henry was found.

Charges against Henry withdrawn

At the time of his death, Henrywas technicallyno longer considered an inmate of the province.That's because the charges against him were withdrawn Tuesday.

"Considering the shape that Mr. Henry was in, the Crown took it upon themselves to approach a judge for consideration to have those charges withdrawn," Wilby said.

He said a determining factor is whether the individual will be able to appear in court.

"The state that Mr. Henrywas in was pretty poor."

Wilbysaid he will not release thenature of the charges Henry had been facing at this time out of respect for the family and because they were withdrawn.

2 inmates charged

Two men, who were not Henry'scell mates, have been charged with aggravated assault in connection with the incident.

One of the men, Raven Don Constant, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder on Wednesday in connection with a separate case.

Constant will be sentenced in February for that case, which was Saskatoon's first homicide of 2013.

The province saysthe Saskatoon Police Service's major crimes division is now handling the case. Officers will decide if the charges of aggravated assault will be elevated.

The Ministry of Justice is investigating internally, as it does for all deaths in custody,and the file will be referred to the provincial coroner for review.