The father of a young man who died during a police intervention five years ago emptied his heart on Monday, on the sidelines of the start of a public coroner’s inquest, which he nevertheless decided to boycott for lack of trust.
• Read also: A public inquiry into the death of Koray Kevin Celik will be held
“We will not participate in this circus, we have lost confidence in the institutions which must do justice”, commented Cesur Celik emotionally on Monday, at the Montreal courthouse.
With tears in his eyes, he briefly returned to the death of his son Koray Kevin Celik, who died in March 2017.
Photo Chantal Poirier
Cesur Celik, the father of Koray Kevin Celik was at the Montreal courthouse on Monday to empty his heart on the sidelines of the coroner’s public inquest in connection with the death of his son, during a police operation in March 2017.
That evening, the Montreal police had been called to the home of the Celik family, in L’Île-Bizard, in connection with a “man in crisis”. On the spot, the police fell in front of Koray Kevin Celik. While they were trying to subdue him, the 28-year-old allegedly suddenly went into cardiac arrest.
He died in front of his parents.
“We suffered a lot,” said Mr. Celik.
Loss of trustworthy
In this case, the Celik family has against the police officers, who were not separated before being questioned by the Bureau of Independent Investigations (BEI).
She also has it against the BEI, which was reproached by the Court of Quebec for having lacked impartiality and transparency in its communications with the public about the deceased.
“It thus directly harms the plaintiffs as to their reputation and honor”, indicated the judgment.
Mr. Celik also has it against the Director of Criminal and Penal Prosecutions, who did not file charges, as well as for the way the case was conducted.
Photo Chantal Poirier
Cesur Celik
Finally, he has some against the Coroner’s Office, which would not allow him to fight on equal terms against the police.
“It’s an accumulation of situations, there is a break in the bond of trust that we have to work to restore,” said Ms.e Virginie Dufresne-Lemire, representing the Celik family.
Photo Chantal Poirier
Me Virginie Dufresne-Lemire
Hearing boycott
Despite a subpoena, Mr. Celik decided to boycott the hearing. Coroner Luc Malouin took note of this decision.
“I find it a shame, but I would not make any further comments,” he said on the sidelines of the hearing.
The public inquiry is scheduled for three weeks. Me Malouin recalled that it was not a trial, and that his work was limited to analyzing all the facts, issuing an opinion and making recommendations “if the circumstances allow it”.