Myles Gray coroner’s inquest jury deem death a homicide

The jury at the coroner’s inquest looking into the death of Myles Gray has come to a verdict, along with a list of recommendations.

After eleven days of testimony, the five-member jury classified his death as a homicide, but this does not imply any fault or blame.

Recommendations include the Vancouver Police Department (VPD) implementing the use of body cams with audio capabilities for all patrol officers, improving communication and coordination to determine leadership in multi-officer responses, and reviewing and enhancing the crisis de-escalation and containment training VPD officers receive.

Read more:

• Application for jury to see photo of Myles Gray’s injuries made too late: coroner

• Forcible restraint by police among factors in Myles Gray death, pathologist says

• Myles Gray had bruising around eyes, neck, retired fire captain tells B.C. inquest

As well as recommendations for the provincial health services authority to review the policy in retaining relevant toxicology samples until the completion of all investigations.

Earlier in the day, Coroner Larry Marzinzik had reminded jurors they were not to make any findings of legal responsibility when forming recommendations.

Related articles:

• Jury deliberates at inquest into death of Myles Gray after a police beating

• B.C. coroner’s inquest hears updated toxicology results for Myles Gray

• Officer testifies at B.C. inquest into man’s death after police beating

Myles Gray was 33 years old when he died in August 2015 after suffering a brutal beating by several officers, leaving him with significant injuries, such as hemorrhaging in his testicles and fracturing his eye socket, nose, voice box, and rib.

A forensic pathologist who performed the autopsy on Gray’s body told the inquest last week that Gray died of a cardiac arrest complicated by police actions, pointing specifically to “neck compression,” blunt force injuries, the use of pepper spray, forcing Gray onto his stomach, and handcuffing him behind his back.

With files from The Canadian Press