'He was trying to get help': Psychologist testifies at fatality inquiry into two inmate suicides at Drumheller

Martin Pinkus had "an illustrious history" at Drumheller Institution that ended eightyears after he arrived at the medium-security prison when he took his own life in a segregation cell.

Pinkus's suicide came two days after another convicted killer, Earl Davenport, died by suicide at the prison on Jan.26, 2015.

There are similarities between the two men but it's not believed their suicides were connected.

Pinkus, 47, was found in his cell by a corrections officer making the rounds in the 35-cell isolation unit.

He was serving a life sentence for the 1995 killing of a gas station attendant in Gloucester, Ont.After serving some of his sentence at the notorious Millhaven maximum-security prison, Pinkus arrived in Drumheller in 2007.

Davenport was also convicted of murder in Ontario. He was serving an indeterminate sentence for first- and second-degree murder.Davenport, 56, was convicted in 1987 in the deaths of his sister-in-law and her friend.

Laura Davenport and Susan Hornbeck were stabbed to death in an attack in Hamilton in 1986.

Struggled with inner demons

The acting warden at the time described Pinkus as likable, but said he "struggled with inner demons" and showed a range of behaviours.

"It was good at times, up and down he had outbursts at times that would scare staff," said Tracey Farmer.

Farmer was the one who signed off on the decision to send Pinkus to the segregation unit. He said he considered Pinkus a maximum-security inmate because of his struggles with drug addiction.

Pinkus received mail that contained methamphetamine on at least one occasion and failed several drug tests.

But there were other issues too including allegations that Pinkus was selling drugs, acting as an enforcer for inmates who were owed money and that he threatened staff and other inmates.

Prison staff who testified said Pinkus was convinced he was going to be sent to a maximum-security prison something he said he would not be able to do.

'I don't want to go to the max'

"They're going to 'max' me, I don't want to go to the max, I can't do that anymore," Grant Christensen recalled froma conversation he had with Pinkus on Jan.27 the day before the 47-year-old took his own life.

Christensen, a long-time correctional manager at the prison, said Pinkus indicated that he would consider suicide if the transfer went through.

The chief psychologist at the prison testified he was concerned about the possibility thatPinkuscould be transferred to a maximum security facility.

"I was concerned for him," Daniel Bzdeltestified.

"Now with his placement in segregation, he equated that to, there's more and more pressure for him to start misbehaving for one reason or another," saidBzdel.

The psychologist told the inquiry a transfer to another medium-security prison or the Regional Psychiatric Centre in Saskatoon would have been better options than a maximum security facility.

Bzdel thought Pinkus was getting better and was trying to get help before he was put into segregation,where inmates are allowed out of their cells only one hour a day. He said Pinkustold him he wanted to get better and had asked for help to contact his mother.

"He was doing a lot better than in the past, he was asking for help and he got in trouble because he was asking for help," said Bzdel.

Pinkus had been sent to the psychiatric centre on two previous occasions with successful results.

Prison workers found Pinkus alone in his cell at about 12:30 a.m. on Jan.28, 2015. He was taken to the Drumheller Health Centre where he was pronounced dead 12 hours later.

Farmer, who is now warden at Bowden Institution, said a number of changes have been made since Pinkus's death, including mandatory interviews between psychologists and inmates before they are sent to segregation.

The time in isolation has also been reduced from 23 hours to 22 hours a day.

The inquiry will continue on Wednesday, with testimony set to focus on Davenport's death.

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