Ashley Smith was playing a ‘dangerous game,’ manager tells inquest

TORONTO – A regional prison manager says he knew Ashley Smith was playing a dangerous game by tying ligatures around her neck.

At the same time, Ken Allan tells her inquest he never instructed guards not to enter Smith’s cell if she was still breathing.

Allan says it would have made no sense for him to give that kind of order given they were on the scene, not him.

The manager was sent to the Grand Valley Institution in October 2007, just weeks before the 19-year-old Smith choked herself to death.

He says he was asked to give use-of-force training to guards because of the numerous violations seen in their interactions with Smith.

Allan says he was not qualified to give the training, and was uncomfortable doing so.

He says he ran into resistance from guards, who felt he was there to admonish or punish them for how they dealt with Smith.