A Halifax police officer who arrested a Nova Scotia man who died 30 hours after being jolted with a stun gun told a public inquiry on Tuesday he did not inform his fellow officers the man was mentally ill and had been off his medication for weeks.

Karen Ellet testifies in Halifax on Tuesday at the inquiry into the death of her common-law husband, Howard Hyde. (CBC)Const. Giles Gillis was one of two Halifax police officers who arrested Howard Hyde on Nov. 21, 2007, for attacking his common-law spouse, Karen Ellet.

Gillis testified that Ellet told him the 45-year-old musician suffered from paranoid schizophrenia and had assaulted her. She also told him he had stopped taking three types of anti-anxiety and psychosis medications and was delusional, he said.

Gillis admitted he didn't relay those details to other officers who brought Hyde to a cell at Halifax regional police headquarters, then repeatedly jolted him with a stun gun after he struggled with them.

When asked by the inquiry's lead counsel, Dan MacRury, why he didn't tell the officers about Hyde's condition, Gillis replied: "I don't know."

Gillis said he believed the best option was to have Hyde held in custody until a court appearance, where a judge could decide if an assessment was required.

After being subdued with the stun gun, Hyde was taken to hospital for treatment, then sent to the Central Nova Scotia Correctional Facility in Dartmouth, where he struggled with guards. He later died in custody at the jail.

MacRury said he believes the whole situation could have been avoided.

"My view is that there was other options, that they could have taken him to the hospital," he said. "But we'll wait and see what they have to say."

Partner tried to inform jailers of illness

Earlier in the day, Hyde's common-law wife told the inquiry she called a mobile crisis unit for help when Hyde became very aggressive, at one point hitting her in the face with a telephone.

She said Hyde had been prescribed medication for his illness, but he had not taken it for weeks.

The court heard a recording of the 911 call Ellet made later that night, during which she told the operator that Hyde was "going to become violent."

Ellet said she later learned that Hyde had been arrested, but when she called the correctional centre to let them know he was ill, she was told staff couldn't help because of concerns over confidentiality.

Ellet described her partner as incredible man who loved music and sports, but only when he was on his medication.

The inquiry, ordered by former justice minister Cecil Clarke, is focusing on the circumstances surrounding Hyde's death, including the transfer process from police headquarters to the jail.

With files from The Canadian Press