A coroner's jury looking into the 2005 death of Fabian Petit in his Prince Albert jail cell has called for better services for inmates who are at risk of suicide.

After deliberating two hours on Tuesday, the jury said it had determined that the cause of death on Aug. 15, 2005 was hanging. On Monday, the inquest heard the prisoner had been on suicide watch and at least one inmate had heard him talking about suicide.

The jury also made 12 recommendations aimed at preventing similar deaths in future.

They include providing psychological training for nurses at the jail when they assess suicide risk.
The jurors also want more contact between elders and aboriginal prisoners.
Other suggestions include ensuring cells are suicide-proof and having guards check high-risk prisoners at least twice an hour.

Those ideas found favour with Petit's father, Michael.

"This was a very good inquest," he said. "Everything came out about what happened. And I'm really happy about the recommendations that the jury made. And I hope they're followed up."

Petit said the inquest gives the family a sense of closure. He hopes the attention paid to the death of his son may one day save a life.