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Inquest to be held into Abbotsford man's police-involved death

Christopher Kampman, 37, suffered cardiac arrest while in police custody and died the following day in hospital.
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Christopher Leslie Kampman

The BC Coroners Service has announced an inquest into the police-involved death of Christopher Leslie Kampman of Abbotsford.

The inquest is scheduled to begin April 15, 2013 at the BC Coroners Service courtroom in Burnaby.

Kampman, 37, suffered cardiac arrest while in police custody and died the following day in hospital.

He was found in the backyard of a home in the 2300 block of Rosewood Drive in Abbotsford on July 1, 2011 after police received a report of a prowler just before 3:30 a.m.

At the time, Const. Ian MacDonald said that two officers arrested Kampman, who was combative and appeared to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs. He said Kampman was making incoherent remarks, and one of the officers requested an ambulance. Additional officers arrived to assist.

Kampman was searched and placed in the back of a police car while awaiting the arrival of the ambulance. MacDonald said Kampman “abruptly stopped moving or making sounds.” Officers opened the back doors to the police car and observed that he was no longer conscious.

MacDonald said police had not used a Taser or baton on Kampman.

Paramedics arrived on the scene, and Kampman was transported to hospital, where he died on July 2.

The Abbotsford Police Department then asked the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team to look into the circumstances leading up to Kampman's arrest and death. The matter will now be examined at the coroner's inquest.

Presiding coroner Vincent Stancato and a jury will hear evidence from subpoenaed witnesses to determine the facts surrounding the death.

While the jury may not, by law, make any findings of legal responsibility, it will have the opportunity to make recommendations aimed at preventing deaths under similar circumstances in the future.



Vikki Hopes

About the Author: Vikki Hopes

I have been a journalist for almost 40 years, and have been at the Abbotsford News since 1991.
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