Sinclair inquest delayed

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This article was published 07/01/2010 (6129 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

WINNIPEG — The inquest into the death of Brian Sinclair won’t start later this month as planned because the presiding judge has stepped down.

Scheduling issues and other commitments forced provincial court Judge Ray Wyant to turn over control of the inquest Thursday to Judge Timothy Preston.

The inquest will examine the circumstances surrounding the death of Brian Sinclair, 45, a double amputee who died in 2008 after sitting for 34 hours in a wheelchair in the Health Sciences Centre’s emergency room. The tragedy made national headlines.

A hearing slated for Monday to hear motions will be postponed, but Chief Judge Ken Champagne said any delays should be short.

Last fall, Wyant heard arguments from Sinclair’s family, who said they needed more money from the province for legal representation. The province has offered a maximum of $40,000 to help the family participate in the inquest, but the family argued the cash was inadequate.

Wyant’s decision on the funding is still pending.