News Clarification for Oct. 22

The coroner’s inquest into the death of Regis Korchinski-Paquet, a 29-year-old Afro-Indigenous woman, faced new challenges on Thursday when her mother, Claudette Beals, testified that she saw police officers push her daughter towards the balcony from which she fell. The incident occurred during a May 2020 police call in High Park, Toronto, raising concerns about how officers handle mental health and epilepsy cases. Beals's testimony led to lawyers for various parties expressing concerns over previously undisclosed evidence, causing a recess in the proceedings.

Constables Adam Vandenbrink and Shane Beaudoin, who arrived first at the apartment building, testified earlier that Korchinski-Paquet walked towards the balcony herself. However, their accounts are now under scrutiny following Beals's allegations of physical force by police officers. The new testimony prompted legal representatives for the officers to request more time to address these claims since they were not previously informed about them.

An additional clarification noted on Saturday confirmed that Constable Vandenbrink arrived first at the building, followed shortly by Constable Beaudoin, both proceeding together to the 24th floor where the incident took place.