Coroner's inquest into Gibbons' death

A coroner's inquest into the death of a man found dead in a downtown Kamloops park a year-and-a-half ago is slated to begin in November. John Gibbons' body was discovered on Nov. 22, 2009, in the park next to Stuart Wood elementary. An inquest into his death will begin on Nov. 14.

KTW FILE PHOTO

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A coroner's inquest into the death of a man found dead in a downtown Kamloops park a year-and-a-half ago is slated to begin in November.

John Gibbons' body was discovered on Nov. 22, 2009, in the park next to Stuart Wood elementary.

An inquest into his death will begin on Nov. 14.

The 39-year-old's death was never deemed suspicious by police.

Gibbons had spent most of his life bouncing between subsidized housing and living on the street.

Following his death, ASK Wellness Centre outreach co-ordinator Ken Salter speculated Gibbons was probably drinking at the Cenotaph on Battle Street the night he died and fell down a flight of stairs, hitting his head on a steel railing.

Salter said Gibbons was found with four broken ribs and a ruptured spleen.

Gibbons also had a full bottle of alcohol and his wallet by his side when he was found.

Not much is known about Gibbons' activities in the hours leading to his death. He was arrested by Kamloops RCMP on the morning of Nov. 20, 2009, and spent much of the day before he died in custody.

Police later said there was a minor altercation between Gibbons and officers as he was being arrested, but they say he didn't suffer serious injuries. Gibbons was released from police custody at about 6:45 p.m. on Nov. 21, 2009.

After leaving city cells, Salter said, Gibbons turned up at Henry Leland House, where he didn't appear to be in any pain or suffering from any injuries.

He is then believed to have gone to the Cenotaph to meet some drinking buddies at about 9 p.m.

After Gibbons' body was discovered, Kamloops Mounties issued a plea for witnesses to come forward with information about the hours leading to his death.

Gibbons gained notoriety following an altercation with former mayoral candidate and RCMP officer Pete Backus in the summer of 2008, caught on camera by KTW photographer Dave Eagles.

Photos taken at the time appeared to show Backus gouging Gibbons' eye and attempting to force him out of his wheelchair.

Gibbons was injured in the scuffle.

A police investigation concluded Backus should face criminal charges, but Crown counsel eventually decided not to proceed, saying there was not a significant likelihood of conviction.

The inquest into Gibbons' death will be presided over by coroner Roderick MacKenzie.

A jury will hear evidence detailing the circumstances surrounding the death and will then have the opportunity to make recommendations based on those circumstances.