Brandon Sun - PRINT EDITION
Jean Paul Beaumont (FILE PHOTO)
Police say they’ve ruled out foul play in the death of a high-ranking outlaw biker who was found dead in a cell at the Brandon jail.
However, that won’t be the end of the matter — there’ll be a mandatory inquest into the jailhouse death.
"In due course, we will be calling an inquest," Manitoba’s chief medical examiner, Dr. Thambirajah Balachandra, confirmed on Wednesday afternoon.
Jean Paul Beaumont, 39, a high-ranking member of the Rock Machine outlaw motorcycle gang, was found dead in a cell in Unit C of the Brandon Correctional Centre on Oct. 14.
Beaumont, a long-standing Manitoba biker, had been linked to the Hells Angels in the past through his membership with the Zig Zag Crew — a so-called "feeder" club.
But he later abandoned the gang and emerged as the sergeant-at-arms of the Rock Machine, a rival gang to the Hells Angels.
Brandon police initially treated Beaumont’s death as "suspicious."
It was believed that he’d been stabbed, but police later said that wasn’t the case.
The case was referred to the Chief Medical Examiner’s Office and an autopsy was done.
The Brandon Police Service, RCMP Serious Crimes Unit and jail staff also investigated.
On Wednesday, Brandon police reported that it had concluded its investigation and determined the death to be "non-criminal" with no charges to be laid.
However, citing privacy, police and Manitoba Justice officials haven’t released a cause of death and wouldn’t comment further.
Balachandra said he’s not in a position to release a cause of death at this point either.
But he did note that — as an unnatural death of a person in custody — the matter is subject to a mandatory inquest.
While it will be up to the courts to determine a date and location, Balachandra said the hearing would likely be held in Brandon.
A press release outlining those details will be issued at a later date.
» ihitchen@brandonsun.com
Republished from the Brandon Sun print edition February 7, 2013
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Police say they’ve ruled out foul play in the death of a high-ranking outlaw biker who was found dead in a cell at the Brandon jail.
However, that won’t be the end of the matter — there’ll be a mandatory inquest into the jailhouse death.
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Police say they’ve ruled out foul play in the death of a high-ranking outlaw biker who was found dead in a cell at the Brandon jail.
However, that won’t be the end of the matter — there’ll be a mandatory inquest into the jailhouse death.
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