(CBC News) – The final few hours of Randy Trenholm’s life were a focal point at a coroner’s inquest into the Port Elgin man’s death on Wednesday.
Trenholm, 50, died in the lock-up of the Shediac RCMP detachment during the early morning hours of June 2, 2007. He had been in police custody after he was pulled over for impaired driving on June 1.
Earlier testimony at the coroner’s inquiry this week showed that Trenholm was behaving oddly, such as pacing in his cell and drinking a lot of water.
A jail guard noticed Trenholm was shaking at about 6 a.m. and called an ambulance.
When he arrived at the Shediac detachment, Rejean Gaudet, an emergency medical technician, said Trenholm was warm, sweaty and reddish when he entered the cell.
He testified on Wednesday that Trenholm’s vital signs were OK although his pulse was slightly elevated.
Gaudet also noted that the man was alert.
But during questioning Gaudet said he was unable to communicate with Trenholm because he couldn’t make out what the man was saying.
Gaudet said he or his partner told the RCMP officer on duty that Trenholm should receive medical attention.
However, Cpl. Wally Blaquiere, who was on duty when Trenholm died, said when the paramedics told him Trenholm’s vital were fine, he believed that meant it was alright for him to stay at the Shediac detachment.
Blaquiere said the paramedics showed no real worry about his condition and he told the coroner’s inquest there was no mention of Trenholm seeing a doctor.
A prison guard signed a form saying Trenholm had refused medical care.
An ambulance was called a few hours later when Trenholm started shaking and had blood and foam coming out of his mouth.
He was pronounced dead at the Dr. Georges-L-Dumont Regional Hospital in Moncton a short time later.
On Monday, Coroner John Evans told the four-man, one-woman jury in Moncton that Trenholm was an alcoholic who had been on a three-week binge when he was arrested.
The inquest continues all week.
Recent Comments