Ontario’s Office of the Chief Coroner has scheduled an inquest into the death of Matthew Di Giovanni, a 34-year-old man who died in September 2019 following an interaction with Peel Regional Police officers.
The inquest is set to begin at 10 a.m. on Monday, October 19, 2026, and is expected to run for 10 days. Approximately 12 witnesses are anticipated to provide evidence during the proceedings, according to an announcement from Ontario’s Ministry of the Solicitor General on September 29.
Inquest to Examine Circumstances Surrounding 2019 Death
Dr. Richard Wells, Regional Supervising Coroner for the Central Region’s Toronto West Office, announced the date for the proceeding.
Di Giovanni died on September 10, 2019, following an interaction with officers from Peel Regional Police earlier that day. Under Ontario’s Coroners Act, an inquest into his death is mandatory.
The proceeding will examine the circumstances surrounding Di Giovanni’s death and provide a formal public process for considering the evidence connected with the case.
Ontario coroner’s inquests are intended to establish facts surrounding certain deaths and may also identify measures that could help prevent similar deaths in the future. In this case, the jury will have the opportunity to make recommendations aimed at preventing further deaths.
John Carlisle to Preside Over Proceedings
Dr. John Carlisle will serve as the presiding officer for the inquest, while Peter Napier has been appointed as inquest counsel.
The proceeding is expected to hear testimony from approximately 12 witnesses over its planned 10-day duration. Their evidence will form part of the jury’s examination of the circumstances leading to Di Giovanni’s death.
The inquest process does not function as a criminal or civil trial. Rather, it provides a formal examination of the circumstances surrounding a death and allows a jury to consider recommendations intended to improve public safety and reduce the risk of similar incidents.
The mandatory nature of the Di Giovanni inquest reflects requirements established under Ontario’s Coroners Act for certain categories of deaths.
Proceedings Will Be Conducted by Video Conference
The entire inquest will be conducted by video conference rather than through an in-person hearing.
Members of the public will be able to watch the proceedings live online. The remote format will provide public access throughout the hearing as witnesses give evidence and the circumstances of the September 2019 incident are examined.
Information about accessing the live proceedings has been made available through the Office of the Chief Coroner’s designated online inquest platform.
Jury May Recommend Measures to Prevent Future Deaths
A central part of the proceeding will be the jury’s consideration of whether recommendations should be made following its examination of the evidence.
Such recommendations can address measures that may help prevent deaths under similar circumstances. The recommendations arising from an inquest are intended to identify potential improvements based on evidence presented during the proceeding.
The October hearing comes more than seven years after Di Giovanni’s death. With approximately 12 witnesses scheduled to participate, the proceeding is expected to provide a detailed examination of the events and circumstances surrounding his interaction with Peel Regional Police and his subsequent death.
The inquest is scheduled to open at 10 a.m. on October 19 and continue for approximately 10 days. At the conclusion of the proceeding, the jury will consider the evidence presented and determine whether recommendations aimed at preventing further deaths should be issued.