Dates finalized for inquest into James Smith killings

By Susan McNeil

The inquest into the deaths of 11 people on the James Smith Cree Nation and in Weldon have been finalized, according to the Saskatchewan coroner’s website.

Between Jan. 15 and Feb. 2 of next year, the inquest into the 10 deaths on the First Nation and the death of one man in Weldon will be held in Melfort.

Starting Feb. 26, a second inquest into how Myles Sanderson — the man who did the killings — came to die in the back of an RCMP cruiser will happen, but in Saskatoon. That inquest is expected to wrap up by March 1.

The first inquest is discretionary but the second one into Sanderson’s death is mandatory by law as he was in police custody when he died.

READ MORE:

• 10 dead and 15 injured in mass stabbing, suspects still at large
• RCMP confirms death of murder suspect Myles Sanderson
• RCMP says Myles Sanderson killed his brother during rampage

On Sept. 4, 2022, Myles Sanderson went on a killing spree on the James Smith Cree Nation, going from home to home and stabbing some of the residents. In addition to the 10 deaths in that community, 17 other people were injured.

His brother Damien, who had partially planned the killings with Myles, tried to stop Sanderson and was killed early in the chain of events.

Myles Sanderson then fled the reserve but stopped in Weldon, where he stabbed and killed Wesley Petterson. Sanderson then managed to evade capture for several days.

The RCMP announced the results of its investigation into the chain of events at the end of April. No details of how Sanderson died were released, although a confidential source told paNOW that Sanderson had overdosed.

Sanderson was on Highway 11 near the community of Rosthern when police pulled him over and caught him. They announced within several hours that Sanderson had died.