Inquest to open on Pond Inlet death

According to police, he stabbed her in the neck and then fled on foot. The RCMP later found him in a nearby home, threatening to harm a small child.

At the time, police said they had to fire to save the child.

RCMP spokesperson Chris Coles says a subsequent investigation found no evidence of wrongdoing on the part of the RCMP.

"We have very strict policy on member-involved shootings, is the term we use, our major crimes unit was immediately dispatched, and they conducted a regular investigation as they would for any other matter," he says. "And their finding was the death was not the result of a criminal act."

Coles says an administrative review of the case also determined that it was handled properly.

The RCMP's investigation of the facts will now be aired at the inquest.

Tim Neily, Nunavut's chief coroner, says the purpose of the inquest is not to lay blame, but to perhaps determine how such a tragedy can be avoided in the future.

"We're certainly not a fault-finding body," he says. "What we're interested in doing is primarily setting the story, presenting it as accurately as possible, a picture of the events that led up to the death."

Neily says the six-member jury may make recommendations following the inquest.

Several people are expected to testify.