Brendan Vermette died in 2022. An inquest into how he died will happen in March. (file photo/paNOW)

By Susan McNeil

Inquest

Inquest into Vermette death scheduled for March

Feb 18, 2025 | 2:05 PM

The Saskatchewan Coroner’s Service will hold an inquest into how a 31-year-old man came to die in the Saskatchewan Penitentiary almost three years ago.

Brenan Vermette was found unconscious in his cell at the penitentiary in Prince Albert on March 9, 2022.

Staff began life-saving efforts which were taken over when EMS arrived, who then took him to hospital.

He was pronounced dead at 1:22 that day.

Vermette was incarcerated in the maximum security portion of federal jail, serving a two-year sentence for trafficking in drugs.

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A family friend told paNOW at the time of his death he would like to see more supports offered to inmates battling addictions. He also did not know how the drugs would have gotten into the facility.

The jail has had multiple incidents of people on the outside using drones or even sling shots to get drugs and other banned items such as cell phones inside the prison.

Inquests have no criminal investigatory aspect, instead, they are fact-finding missions often done when people die in police or government custody with the aim of preventing similar deaths.

This inquest will be led by Coroner Blaine Beaven and will take place at the Coronet Hotel beginning March 18 and going until March 21.

A jury of six members of the public will also determine who died, when, where and the medical cause and manner of death.

Some juries make recommendations on how things can be improved but not always.

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susan.mcneil@pattisonmeida.com

On BlueSky: @susanmcneil.bsky.social