EMDC inmate who died Sunday had been assaulted before

CBC News has learned the inmate who was found dead at the Elgin-Middlesex Detention Centre (EMDC) Sunday has been identified asJames Pigeau.

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Pigeauwas one of the witnesses to Adam Kargus' murder and had been part of a civil suit against the province.

Pigeau's lawyer, Kevin Egan, said his client experienced anxiety and post-traumatic stress after witnessing the murder, even ending up in psychiatric care as a result.

Pigeau experienced multiple assaults, lawyer says

Pigeaualso spoke with CBC's Fifth Estate as part of adocumentary about theEMDC, and Egansaidhe can be seen in one frame being taken away from the facility in an ambulance.

At the time of the 2017 incident, Pigeau told Egan he had been assaulted by "a number of guards."Eganrecalls seeing wounds on Pigeau'sarms, including a large puncture wound that had turned septic.

Since then, Eganlearnedthat Pigeau hadbeen assaulted by fellow inmates, and heard rumours that Pigeau needed to use a wheelchair as a result of his injuries.

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He said Pigeau had tried to contact him several times in the past week, but had been unable to get through. He wasn't sure what the matter was regarding.

"I know that he was trying to reach me in the last week and it saddens me that I wasn't able to speak to him."

Eganremembers Pigeau as a "bright and articulate" man, who was close with his parentsand committed to effecting change at EMDC.

Supervision model lacking

Five people died atEMDCin 2017, including a 29-year old who was found in his cellDec. 26.

There have been at least 10deaths at the prison since 2009, includingKargaswho was beaten to death in his cell by another inmate.

"When people are dying on such a regular cycle here, there's obviously a problem with the supervision," said Egan.

He said EMDCneeds to either build a new facility, or drastically change itssupervision model.

A body scanner would also help the problem, said Egan, who added that he "wouldn't hold [his] breath waiting for it to show up."

Rick Nicholls, MPP for Chatham-Kent-Essex, agreed.

"The problem is, as I see it, drugs are still getting into the detention centre. I recall back in 2016 when [the Ministry] promised the state of the art body scanner and it still hasn't come in," he said.

"Had they acted upon the feel-good words that they were saying out there, I believe that a lot of deaths could have been prevented."

EMDC was scheduled to receive a full body scanner by the end of 2017.

• Jail body scanners coming by year's end but lawyer skeptical

• London's EMDC to get body scanner in next two weeks, says province

In an email statement, the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services said the device 'is expected to become operational in the coming weeks,' and that EMDC is using ascanner at the Elgin-Middlesex Regional Intermittent Centrein the meantime.

Questions that remain

Pigeau'scause of death is still unknown.

Egansaid in addition to experiencing violence from guards and inmates,Pigeauhad begun doingdrugs in prison to cope with the boredom of being incarcerated.

"Whatever the cause of death, I think that it all points to systemic issues with that jail," he said.