Family needs to replace lawyer Wayne Redekop By ALISON LANGLEY Niagara Falls Review Updated 1 day ago
An inquest into the death of Fort Erie teenager Reilly Anzovino has been delayed indefinitely.
The sixth day of the inquest was set to get underway in Welland court Monday morning, but was adjourned until later in the day after the presiding coroner Dr. Jack Stanborough received a request from the Anzovino parents, Tim Anzovino and Denise Kennedy.
When the jury returned to the courtroom, the three-woman, two-man panel was told the matter was going to be postponed because the Anzovino family is no longer represented by Fort Erie lawyer Wayne Redekop.
"The family have elected to pursue new counsel for the purpose of this inquest," Stanborough told the jury.
The coroner directed the Anzovino family to retain another lawyer as soon as possible so that the inquest can resume in short order.
"My hope and anticipation is at the earliest opportunity we will be sitting again," he told the jury.
Redekop, the former mayor of Fort Erie and the NDP candidate in the provincial election last month, did not appear in court on Monday. Members of the Anzovino family stood alongside Redekop when Ontario NDP leader Andrea Horwath visited Fort Erie in September to support his campaign.
Lawyers representing the other parties who have standing at the inquest did not object to the adjournment.
Under the Coroner's Act, all parties who have standing at an inquest are entitled to have legal representation.
In addition to the Anzovino family, parties that have standing at the inquest are the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care, the Hamilton Niagara Haldimand Brant Local Health Integration Network; Niagara Emergency Medical Services and the Niagara Health System.
Anzovino, 18, died on Boxing Day 2009 after the car she was a passenger in collided with a second vehicle on Highway 3 between Fort Erie and Port Colborne.
She died shortly before arriving at the Welland County General Hospital.
The inquest was looking at whether or not the closure of the emergency rooms at Douglas Memorial Hospital in Fort Erie and Port Colborne General Hospital had played a role in her death.
It was also examining the treatment Anzovino received from paramedics at the scene and in the ambulance.
The inquest began Oct. 31 and had heard from 10 witnesses, including several Niagara EMS paramedics who tended to Anzovino on the day of crash.
The inquest was expected to last four weeks and hear from approximately 35 witnesses.
Stanborough said the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services will issue a media release once a date has been confirmed to resume the inquest.
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