The mother of a former Brantford man who was beaten to death in the Don Jail almost 15 years ago is relieved that a government process promised 12 years ago is finally ready to proceed.
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After an argument over a bag of potato chips in 2009, Jeff Munro’s head was stomped on repeatedly by at least one other inmate.
An inquest date has been set to finally explore Munro’s death and whether this highly addicted, frequent psychiatric patient, after exposing himself on a Toronto street, should have been placed in the Don Jail instead of sending him to CAMH.
“It’s about time,” said Chris Munro, Jeff’s mother, on Friday.
“This is way, way overdue.”
The point of the inquest is to explore what happened to Munro and to allow a jury to make recommendations that could prevent such deaths in the future.
But Munro says since Jeff’s death, facilities, personnel and policies have all changed.
In fact, the Don Jail was notorious as a “correctional hellhole” where 70 murders occurred during its operation and was closed a decade ago.
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The psychiatric unit of the jail where Munro ended up was especially bad and known to be dangerous.
On Nov 7, 2009, Troy Campbell, another inmate with a history of violence, kicked and stomped on the former cruise dancer’s head. In 2012, Campbell was sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for 12 years.
The inquest into Munro’s death was also announced that year but then delayed, and delayed. When the pandemic hit, everything was delayed even further but the inquest is still mandatory under the coroner’s act.
The process was announced last month and the actual date given on Friday.
“I feel like Jeff was a nobody to them. I feel like it got swept under the carpet,” Munro said last month.
The five-day process – with Chris Munro speaking in person — will finally begin July 8 at 9:30 am
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A spokesperson for the Ministry of the Solicitor General said inquests can take a long time and must wait until all other investigations and criminal charges have been dealt with and their appeals exhausted.
Five witnesses will be called in July and the procedure will be conducted by video conference.
The link to watch the inquest is https://firstclassfacilitation.ca/office-of-the-chief-coroner/inquest-into-the-death-of-Jeffrey-Munro/.
More information about inquests in the province can be found at www.ontario.ca/page/coroners-inquests.
@EXPSGamble
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