Standing hearing for 'suicide by cop' inquest to be held in early 2017

A standing hearing will be held in January to decide who can participate in an upcoming inquest into the death of 44-year-old Roy Thomas Bell in 2007.

Bell, a former member of theCanadian Forces, was killed in December 2007 in a confrontation with police officers responding to a 911 call on Langside Street.

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When officers arrived, Bell threatened them with a weapon. However, thereseems to be some confusion about what exactly that weapon was.

At the time, police said Bell had a bat and a firearm. In a news release issued on Monday about the upcoming inquest, police described it astwo sticks connected by a chain.

Police issued another news release on Tuesday, removing those details. Instead, they now describe itas simplya weapon.

In any case, they said Bell moved towards the officers and they Tasered him, but it had no effect. Police then fired their handguns, hitting Bell multiple times.

Bell was pronounced dead after being transported to hospital.

At the time witnesses told CBC they heard Bell telling the officers to shoot him, raising speculation that he may have committed "suicide by cop."

Bell served in the military for more than 20 years before he was released in 2004. Friends previously told CBC he had been dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder.

The chief medical examiner called for the inquest under the Fatality Inquiries Act to explore the circumstances and events leading to the death. The inquest is supposed to find out what, if anything, can be done to prevent similar deaths, the release said.

However, before the inquest begins the judge decides who can participate and question witnesses in the inquest during the hearing on Jan. 11, 2017 at Winnipeg Law Courts.The inquest will be held at a later date.