An inquest into the death of Robert Wayne (Robbie) Slatten has been scheduled for Jan. 16, at the BC Coroners Service courtroom in Burnaby.
Slatten, was a 31-year-old inmate at the Fraser Regional Correctional Centre in Maple Ridge when, on Oct. 19, 2010, he was found dead in his cell.
In February 2011 The TIMES reported that Slatten overdosed on methadone as a result of a staff error.
Brian Slatten, Robbie’s brother, said he was not informed of his brother’s death for four days and believes there was a coverup at the prison.
Brian learned his brother was given the fatal dose by a nurse on her second orientation shift. The review said the nurse should have been shadowing a regular nurse rather than working on her own.
Robbie was not registered on the methadone maintenance program.
The review also stated other errors by prison staff, including falsifying a medical report.
Presiding coroner Liana Wright and a jury will hear evidence from subpoenaed witnesses to determine the facts surrounding this death.
While the jury may not, by law, make any findings of legal responsibility, it will have the opportunity to make recommendations aimed at preventing deaths under similar circumstances in the future.
The inquest is expected to last three days.
- With files from Sam Cooper from The Province
