Original article no longer available
CBC News
Last Updated Jun 6 2006 09:01 AM CDT
A coroner’s jury will deliberate on the case of La Ronge man who died in a hail of bullets after smashing vending machines and confronting police with a gun.
Shawn Martinot died with 16 gunshot wounds in August 2004 after his fatal encounter with the police.
Over the past week, the inquest into his death heard the 38-year-old lived and worked at the Northland Hotel in La Ronge and, according to witnesses, had been drinking the day before the incident.
Tests later found traces of an anti-depressant in his bloodstream.
A co-worker testified she became scared when Martinot began smashing vending machines with a sledgehammer. He had a rifle next to him at his table as well.
Police came to the hotel and a 17-hour standoff began. The RCMP used a robot to fire tear gas at Martinot, but he shot and disabled the device. Martinot eventually came into the hallway where police were waiting. He had a gun in his hands and police shot him. He died.
The six-person jury is expected to make recommendations to prevent similar deaths.