Reopen probe into student's 2001 death: Ottawa family
Last Updated: Wednesday, November 4, 2009 | 12:13 PM ET
CBC News
John Connelly with his older sister, Sarah. (the fifth estate/CBC) The family of a University of Toronto student who died after falling from his 10th-floor apartment in 2001 is calling for a fresh investigation into his death, saying the original probe was bungled.
They say Toronto police and the coroner's office overlooked evidence during the original investigation into John Connelly's death, so they're calling on the province to take the necessary steps to allow for a new examination.
Connelly, 22, was a third-year pharmacy student when he died in December 2001.
Police ruled it a suicide, but Sarah Connelly, John's sister, said Wednesday it just doesn't make sense.
"He was a dedicated student. He worked well under pressure and he would not give up when the task at hand became difficult," she said.
The Connelly family held a news conference at Queen's Park, saying they have gathered evidence the police and coroner overlooked — including suggestions that the suicide note left in Connelly's 10th floor apartment was forged and that he was not alone when he fell to his death.
Their case was bolstered earlier this year when they received investigative documents that had not been previously disclosed.
"Despite this evidence, we have been met with silence. This silence has now become an accomplice to the injustice that has been done to [my son] John," said Dr. John Connelly.
The family travelled from their Ottawa home to Queen's Park to ask the government to reclassify the young man's cause of death as undetermined, so a new investigation can begin.
Progressive Conservative MPP Bob Runciman is backing their request,
"There have simply been too many instances where the coroner's office forgets its role as a medical investigator, and that must end," said Runciman
Runciman plans to make a motion in the legislature which would allow the case to be re-opened.
