Coroners inquest makes 16 recommendations following fatal police shooting

VANCOUVER – A coroners inquest has made 16 recommendations after hearing the case of a 48-year-old man who as fatally shot by police outside a British Columbia casino.

Mehrdad Bayrami was shot and killed following an hours-long standoff outside New Westminster’s Starlight Casino in November 2012.

The recommendations include improving access to mental health services and reducing stigma around mental illness.

Bayrami’s daughter Nousha Bayrami told the inquest on Tuesday that her father had been on medication for severe depression prior to his death, and that she likely could have helped to talk him down.

The inquest recommended establishing provincial standards for police emergency response teams, that the teams work with psychologists during incidents, and record standoffs on a mobile device.

The coroners inquest was tasked with considering whether to make recommendations aimed at preventing similar events from occurring, but it cannot assign blame.

News from © The Canadian Press, . All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Join the Conversation!

Want to share your thoughts, add context, or connect with others in your community?

The Canadian Press

The Canadian Press is Canada's trusted news source and leader in providing real-time, bilingual multimedia stories across print, broadcast and digital platforms.