Ontario’s Office of the Chief Coroner will convene a mandatory inquest into the death of Jamal Francique, a 28-year-old man who died in January 2020 following an interaction with Peel Regional Police. The announcement, issued by the Ministry of the Solicitor General, confirms that the inquest will review the circumstances surrounding the incident and consider measures to help prevent similar deaths in the future.
Dr. Kenneth Peckham, Regional Supervising Coroner for the Central Region, Central West Office, formally announced the inquest, which is required under Ontario’s Coroners Act. Francique died on January 9, 2020, two days after the police interaction that prompted the examination. As with all inquests mandated under provincial legislation, the process is intended to provide transparency, accountability and expert scrutiny of the events that preceded the death.
“Mr. Francique, 28 years old, died on January 9, 2020, following an interaction with officers from Peel Regional Police that occurred on January 7, 2020. An inquest into his death is mandatory under the Coroners Act,” the announcement stated.
Inquests in Ontario serve as public hearings designed to gather and present evidence related to a death, particularly when circumstances involve police interaction, public institutions or matters of significant public interest. Unlike a criminal trial or civil proceeding, an inquest does not assign blame or determine legal liability. Instead, a jury made up of community members hears testimony from witnesses, experts and investigators before issuing recommendations aimed at improving public safety and preventing similar deaths.
“The inquest will examine the circumstances surrounding Mr. Francique’s death. The jury may make recommendations aimed at preventing further deaths,” the Ministry’s statement noted.
Francique’s death drew considerable public attention at the time, contributing to broader conversations about policing, oversight and transparency in Ontario. Mandatory inquests in cases such as this help provide a formal mechanism to review systemic issues, particularly when the events involve law enforcement. While the government’s announcement does not address potential areas of focus, past inquests involving police interactions have examined factors such as training, mental health response, communication protocols and the use of force.
The Coroners Act requires inquests in several categories of death, including those occurring in custody or involving police actions. Mandatory inquests provide an opportunity for a public airing of facts, helping ensure that both the process and findings are open and accessible to the community. Families, legal representatives, institutional stakeholders and members of the public often participate in or observe these proceedings.
Further details about Francique’s inquest, including the date, location and presiding officials, will be released at a later time. Inquests can span several days to multiple weeks depending on the complexity of the evidence and the number of witnesses called. Once convened, all proceedings will be open to the public, consistent with Ontario’s commitment to transparency in the coronial system.
“For more information about inquests, see: https://www.ontario.ca/page/coroners-inquests,” the statement concluded.
The announcement comes as Ontario continues to modernize and expand its coronial processes, particularly in areas related to policing and community safety. Recent years have seen an increased public focus on the role of inquests in identifying systemic gaps and supporting policy improvements. The recommendations produced by juries, while not legally binding, often guide changes in policy, practice and training across police services, health systems and other public-sector institutions.
With preparations for the Francique inquest underway, provincial officials say the process will follow established guidelines to ensure a comprehensive and independent examination. The findings, once issued, are expected to form part of the ongoing dialogue surrounding police accountability and public safety in Ontario.
As the province schedules the hearing, community stakeholders, advocates and observers will be watching closely for updates on when the inquest will begin and how it may contribute to broader policy discussions related to policing and oversight. The forthcoming proceedings mark another chapter in the continued public examination of the circumstances surrounding Francique’s death and the efforts to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
