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Inquest complete,Flannery report expected in two weeksby GORDON KENT Sun StaffA report on the death of escaped mental patient Keith Flannery is expected in about two weeks after an inquest finished Thursday.The last of 43 witnesses to testify at the three-day long inquest added little new information about Mr. Flannery. 37, who was founddrowned in the Assiniboine River last July.Mr. Flannery was committed to the Brandon Mental Health Centre in 1983 after he was found not guilty by reason of insanity for killing his father and cousin.They died when he set fire to the family home in Pipestone Jan. 29, 1983, under the delusion he was going to be sent to the centre.His bloated body was spotted by fishermen in a park one kilometre east of Brandon on July 15.He escaped around midnight July 4 through a window in the first-floor infirmary ward, where he had been taken two days before with high blood sugar.Although windows and doors in the infirmary are now locked, one nurse said the ward he normally stayed on was not suitable for all people found criminally insane.Garry Meadows said Mr Flannery stayed on an unlocked ward, and as an “active, kind man,” lie was not a problemHe did have to sign in every hour to ensure he didn't leave.“I'm not sure, if it had been someone different, it would have been appropriate, because it (the wardi was unlocked. said Mr. Meadows.On Wednesday, the second day of the inquest, BMHC director Gary Mattin and a psychiatrist said they didn't think the centre was set up for forensic, or criminal. cases.The inquest started Feb. 28. It was required to examine the circumstances of Mr. Flannery's death because he was a patient at BMHC.Although no witnesses testified how he died, a report in his medical file shows staff at the centre don't think it was suicide.Provincial court Judge Rodney Mvkle said witnesses were extremely helpful.”His written report will be finished in about two weeks, he said.
Newspaper Details
Brandon Sun
Brandon, Manitoba, CA
Fri, Apr 26, 1985
Page 2
Full Page
Clipped by
Tyler M.
NA, NA 19 Feb 2025
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