Calls to reopen Nadine Machiskinic case as Regina police accused of 'botched job'

Anti-racism groups andfamily membersof Nadine Machiskinicarecalling for Regina police to reopen the investigation into her death, calling the initial case "a botched job."

Speaking at a news conference on Monday, the group called for fairer treatment ofthe death of the 29-year-old mother, who fell down a hotel laundry chute in Regina in 2015.

• Police chief's comments on Nadine Machiskinic's death adds to family's frustration
• Jury reverses coroner's decision on manner of Machiskinic's death

"I guess what we're here today for is, again, to yell as loudly as we can for justice and fair treatment," said community activist Brenda Dubois.

"There were too many glitches, and regardless ofhow the police want to respond, they need to be able to admit that this was a botched job."

Reopening investigation up to police, says attorney general

Machiskinic's aunt DeloresStevenson saidshe haswritten tojustice minister and attorney general GordonWyant,asking for the investigation to be reopened.

But in a statement issued Monday afternoon,Wyantsaid it was not the role of the attorney general to direct the actions of police.

"There were a lot of questions that came out of the [coroner's] inquest and it is up to the responsible agencies, such as the RPS [Regina Police Service], coroner's office and the ministry to ensure processes are improved so that these do not happen again," saidWyant.

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He suggested the family direct its request to the Public Complaints Commission, which previously determined there was no issue with Regina police work.

"With the inquest now being complete, they might revisit that review but it would be up to [the PCC]to make that determination if a request was made," saidWyant.

Inquest reversedcoroner's decision on manner of death

Machiskinic fell 10storeysdown a laundry chute at the Delta Hotel in January 2015. Questions remain about how she came to be in the chute.

We all carry our biases with us and it is imperative that we not deny that fact but rather keep that realization utmost in our mind as we fulfilour duties.- Bob Hughes,Saskatchewan Coalition Against Racism

A coroner's inquest intoMachiskinic'sdeath concluded on March 30.

The jury found the manner of her death is "undetermined," contrary to the finding of the chief coroner, who had ruled it an accident.

The inquest highlighted a number of delays and errors in the police investigation intoMachiskinic'sdeath.

Family frustrated by police chief's comments

Monday's news conference was partly a reaction to comments made by Regina Police Chief Evan Bray last week.

Following the conclusion of the inquest, Bray admitted there were mistakes in the investigation.

• CBC Saskatchewan's full NadineMachiskiniccoverage

But he said itwasn't influenced by who Machiskinic was.

"The Regina Police Service will not ever conduct an investigation based on interpretation of a person's lifestyle, race, gender bias like that won't find itself into an investigation," Bray said at the time.

'This is simply not reality'

Saskatchewan Coalition Against Racism advocate Bob Hughes, who was present at Monday's news conference, disagreed withBray's assertion that gender and race were not factors in the treatment ofMachiskinic'scase.

"That is simply not reality," he said.

"We all carry our biases with us and it is imperative that we not deny that fact but rather keep that realization utmost in our mind as we fulfilour duties."

The news conference was also organized by Stevenson, the Coalition for Civilian Oversight and Colonialism No More.

Each of the organizations said they asked for and were denied standing at the coroner's inquest.