The coroner’s office is investigating another death at the Ottawa jail after an accused bank robber hanged himself just after midnight on Thursday.
Jean Veillette, 48, hanged himself in his cell on 2 Wing and was later pronounced dead in hospital after guards and then paramedics tried to revive him.
The coroner’s office routinely investigates every death in custody and has the power to call an inquest, although inquests are prohibited from assigning blame.
“I can tell you that the investigation will be thorough. This is not something you can rush,” said Dr. Louise McNaughton-Filion, the regional supervising coroner.
Veillette had been on the Ottawa police radar for a while. He was arrested in October after a knifepoint bank robbery on Montreal Road. Police said he was heavily disguised, but quickly unmasked after a passerby witnessed the robbery, followed the suspect and called 911.
Veillette was facing three counts of robbery, disguise with intent, possession of a weapon, assault with a weapon, uttering death threats and two counts of breach of recognizance.
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