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Inquest told young people were drunk as they climbed catwalk at arts centre

By: The Canadian Press

Thursday, Feb. 28, 2013 at 8:16 AM | Comments: 0

REGINA - A young man has testified he and two friends were drunkenly exploring a theatre catwalk in the pitch dark when one of them fell to their death.

Mason Smyth says he and Todd Horrocks were with Jaidan Lynn Slaferek on Jan. 15, 2012, when she plummeted 12 metres to the floor at the Conexus Arts Centre.

He says he had been holding her hand for balance, but then he let go.

A coroner's inquest is looking into the circumstances of the incident and the jury will make recommendations to prevent future deaths but will not be assigning blame.

Smyth testified Wednesday that he and his friends had been drinking for a few hours before they decided to try sneaking into a formal dance at the facility.

He admitted he had so much to drink he can't remember the circumstances clearly.

They didn’t have tickets but Smyth said they just walked in without being questioned by anyone. He admitted someone in the group also carried a large bottle of whisky which they were drinking at a table during the dance.

As the night went on, Smyth said he, Jaidan and Horrocks went outside to smoke and made their way around the building looking for another open door to go exploring.

They eventually got back inside and found an elevator which took them to the top floor.

Smyth did remember going through at least two doors marked "Danger, Do Not Enter" or "Authorized Personnel Only" but said the trio kept going despite knowing they shouldn’t be there.

Smyth said he was the first to go through a small door onto the catwalk and Jaidan followed behind him with Horrocks after her.

He told court at that point, Jaidan and Horrocks said they should go back but he wanted to go further.

That’s when he heard her fall.

The details of that night are not as clear to Horrocks, who testified at the inquest after Smyth.

The now 22-year-old admitted that he had been drinking and smoking marijuana that night, and even bought a few drinks from the bar at the dance.

The two young men descended to the backstage area where the 17-year-old girl was lying on her back.

"By the time I got to her, she had a couple of breaths left," he said.

Outside court, Rick Slaferek said he hopes the inquest into his daughter's death helps make sure nothing like it ever happens again.

He was happy to learn the Conexus Arts Centre has already made several security changes.

“We’re very happy to hear some of the changes they’ve made because I know that will make a huge difference in preventing this from happening again,” he said.

(CJME)

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