Soleiman Faqiri, who had schizophrenia, was arrested in December 2016, after allegedly stabbing a neighbor while experiencing a mental health crisis.

He died on December 15, 2016 while in a segregation cell following a violent struggle with correctional officers that occurred as they were escorting him from the shower to his segregation cell.

The inquest came to a close on December 8th. On behalf of correctional workers, Lawyers argued the death should instead be ruled an accident.

On December 12th Jurors deemed the death of Soleiman Faqiri a homicide.

According to the Toronto Star, presiding officer David Cameron, said while reading jury panel’s statement, on December 12th, “Faqiri died by means of homicide due to a combination of his restraint in a prone position, the injuries he sustained during the struggle with guards, exertion and “pepper foam exposure” while having an enlarged heart, and his worsening symptoms of schizophrenia.”

The Jury also made a list of 57 recommendations. A few of those are listed below:

• Adopting a public position within 60 days that jails are not appropriate places for those with mental health issues.

• Policies that require inmates to receive health care equivalent to what they would get in the community.

• The establishment of an independent “inspectorate” for the province’s correctional facilities.

• Immediate steps to ensure people facing acute psychiatric crises are taken to a hospital.

• Establishing an agency to directly deliver and oversee health care services in jails.

• Creating formal partnerships between all Ontario jails and local hospitals.

• Establishing an independent advisor or advocate for inmates at all jails.

• Ensuring jail physicians and nurses can easily access an external roster of psychiatrists and medical professionals.

• Immediately implement a committee to ensure the jury’s recommendations are considered and responses are published.