Boucher inquiry ends

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The fatality inquiry into the suicide death of Edmonton Institute inmate victim William Boucher is over. But there are those who feel that many questions have not been answered.

"I'm rather disgusted with the way the fatality inquiry went," says Gary Boucher, the victim's bother. "I heard a lot of general information about the way drugs are given out at the Edmonton Institution, but I've yet to hear any answers on how and why my brother died. I've heard a lot of smooth talking lawyers throw a lot of doubt on my brother's situation and not concentrate on the problem specifically."

Evidence at the inquiry, which began in November and concluded on March 17, showed that Boucher had been prescribed a number of drugs shortly before his death., including valium and chloral hydrate. The focus of the inquiry was the amount of drugs that was being prescribed to inmates at the Edmonton Institution, and the possible effects of those drugs.

Burke Barker, lawyer for the Boucher family, described Edmonton Institution as a "chemical hell-hole" in one of many heated exchanges with presiding Provincial Court Judge Dan Abbott. Barker added that "Edmonton Institution is using chemicals to keep prisoners in line in a situation they have created," referring to the tension that is prevalent at the Institution.

The final day of evidence also heard testimony from three nurses at the Edmonton Institution, David Grusky, Sylvia Ellison and Rita Balani.

Balani, a nurse at the institution for only a year says that the drugs given out at the institution are for therapeutic use only and are only given out at therapeutic levels. Balani added that most inmates express a need for therapy to help them cope with the stress and anxiety. She also said that drugs are not the only therapy used to help inmates cope. The Health Care Unit at the institution also uses relaxation therapy and bio-feedback to help inmates.

In his final summation, Barker said he knew Boucher before he was admitted into Edmonton Institution and that Boucher went into the prison suffering from emotional and physical disabilities. He says that when Boucher arrived at Edmonton Max he was no longer in charge of his life, the prison was.

Barker charged that Boucher was given combination of drugs that he was not supposed to receive, and no one was stepping forward to share responsibility for what happened to William Boucher. Barker added that he did not think the inquiry had the desire to have a thorough inquiry into the factors that led to Boucher's suicide, but that there was simply a desire to go through the motions of an inquiry.

Barker called the hostage-taking incident in Lac La Biche Boucher's final defiance against the community for the many injustices that had been dealt to him. To emphasize his point, Barker used as an example an incident when Boucher was sexually assaulted by a parole officer and the parole officer was allowed to go on with his life as Boucher did not count.

Barker added that "it seems like the prison system operates like prisons are not persons. We are losing the capacity to hold our prison system into account."

Barker also attached the attitude of the nurses and doctors at Edmonton Max concerning the method of reducing the effects of an environment that they've helped create, referring to the nurses' contentions that they did not question the need for the amount of drugs that were handed out at the institution. Barker said there was little, if any, difference in attitude there than there was in Germany in the early 1940s. "I did what I was told, no more, no less."

Barker questioned how the doctors could say they were there to help the hurting hurt less and do as they do to the prisoners in prisons. He said that the doctors were like a doctor at a Brazilian torturing, they were only there to tell the torturer how much the body can withstand."

The lawyer charged that prisoners are returned to society addicted and unable to cope. He called for a ull inquiry into the use of mood altering drugs to control prisoners.

In a moving statement, Barker questioned where all the people who could fight these practises were. He said "we have to show the prison authorities that they are not gods, and that they are accountable."

Finally, Barker stated he would end on a personal note. He recounted a time when he took William Boucher to see the movie "Amadeus." He said that throughout the movie Bill sat transfixed by what was going on before him, adding that "Billy may not have had a full appreciation for the music itself," but that Boucher had need for beauty and when he saw it, he fully appreciated it."

The judge is expected to hand down a report within the next month.