LONDON, Ont. — The Office of the Chief Coroner has confirmed that an inquest into the death of Thomas Humphrey will begin on Wednesday, October 15, 2025. The proceedings will examine the circumstances surrounding his death and may result in recommendations aimed at preventing similar incidents in the future.
Dr. Elizabeth Urbantke, Regional Supervising Coroner for West Region, London Office, announced the scheduling of the inquest on September 29. “The inquest will begin at 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, October 15, 2025,” she said, noting that Dr. Richard McLean has been appointed as presiding officer. The inquest counsel will be Julian Roy, Roy Jahchan, and Vivian Sim.
Background of the Case
Mr. Humphrey, a 35-year-old man of Delaware Nation at Moraviantown heritage, died in hospital on August 6, 2019, following an interaction with officers from the Chatham-Kent Police Service. His death prompted a mandatory inquest under Ontario’s Coroners Act, which requires such inquiries in cases involving deaths connected to police actions or other circumstances where public interest is significant.
An inquest is not intended to assign blame or liability. Instead, it is a fact-finding process conducted before a jury, designed to provide a public accounting of the circumstances of a death. The jury may then issue recommendations aimed at improving public safety and preventing further deaths under similar conditions.
Structure and Timeline
The inquest is expected to last six days and will hear testimony from approximately 10 witnesses. According to the Ministry of the Solicitor General, the proceeding will be conducted by video conference, with public access provided online.
The ministry has indicated that transparency and accessibility are priorities for the process. Members of the public who wish to follow the proceedings will be able to do so live through a webcast link hosted by First Class Facilitation.
Significance for the Community
The death of Thomas Humphrey has drawn attention both within the Delaware Nation at Moraviantown and in the wider Chatham-Kent region. Advocates for Indigenous rights and community members have emphasized the importance of ensuring a transparent review of the circumstances that led to his death.
Mandatory inquests such as this one often serve as a forum for examining systemic issues, particularly in interactions between police services and Indigenous communities. While the scope of this inquest has not been detailed beyond the circumstances of Humphrey’s death, observers note that recommendations emerging from similar proceedings have in the past influenced policing practices, emergency response protocols, and health care procedures.
Jurisdiction and Legal Context
Ontario conducts dozens of coroner’s inquests each year. Under the Coroners Act, an inquest must be held in certain types of cases, including deaths in custody and deaths arising from police interactions. Presiding officers are tasked with guiding the jury through the evidence, ensuring that proceedings remain focused on the mandate of fact-finding rather than attributing guilt.
In this case, Dr. McLean will oversee the hearing, while the appointed counsel — Julian Roy, Roy Jahchan, and Vivian Sim — will assist in presenting evidence and questioning witnesses.
The recommendations issued by the jury at the conclusion of the inquest are not legally binding. However, they are frequently adopted by institutions and governments as policy guidance. Past inquests have led to substantive changes in public policy, including reforms to police training, emergency medical services, and mental health interventions.
Access and Next Steps
The Ministry of the Solicitor General is encouraging public engagement by making the proceedings available online. The webcast can be accessed through: First Class Facilitation – Inquest into the death of Thomas Humphrey.
Further information about the inquest process is also available through the provincial government at ontario.ca/coroners-inquests.
The October hearing will provide a platform for examining the circumstances of Humphrey’s death six years after the incident. For many in the community, the inquest represents not only a legal requirement but also an important opportunity for reflection, accountability, and the potential for systemic change.
