The inquest begins Monday into the death of a 19-month-old Vancouver Island toddler Sherry Charlie – who was beaten to death by her uncle Ryan George in September 2002.



Sherry Charlie
A First Nations child welfare agency (USMA) had placed the girl and her older brother in his home just two weeks before her death, without first conducting a background check into George's violent past.

Nor did it remove her brother from the home until five months after Sherry's death.

Her uncle was sentenced to 10 years in jail for manslaughter. Because he pleaded guilty, few details about the case were revealed – including why USMA placed the girl in the Ryan home in the first place.

The inquest is expected to focus on the agency, as well as the role played by the Ministry of Children and Family Development.

NDP critic Adrian Dix says he expects the evidence will show that the government was negligent by imposing a "cut-rate social work system, and the consequences of that for these children was disastrous.

"By September 11, 2002, it was evident to all concerned, on the medical examiner's side, that her injuries were inconsistent with the explanation given by the caregivers.

"Yet, no one in the system reacted – not the coroner's office which is conducting this inquest, not the police, not the ministry, not the Child and Youth Officer. No one, no one responded."

Social workers, family members and the convicted uncle, Ryan George, are all expected to testify during the one-week inquest in Port Alberni.