Lee Bonneau inquest: 'Heartbreaking' case, coroner says

Lee Bonneau's death was a homicide by blunt force trauma to the head, a coroner's jury has determined.

The inquest into the 2013 death of the six-year-old concluded Friday with the jury submitting its findings along with 19 recommendations primarily aimed at social agencies.

• EXTRACT OF JURY FINDINGS

The presiding coroner, Alma Wiebe, began the day by providing the jury with a synopsis of two weeks of testimony.

At the conclusion of the inquest, Wiebe said the case concerned two victims, the child who died and the 10-year-old boy believed to be responsible for the death.

"One deceased and one with some grave problems," Wiebe said.

Lee Bonneau was found with severe head injuries in a wooded area on the Kahkewistahaw reserve in 2013. He had last been seen walking with an older boy outside a recreation complex while his foster mother was playing bingo.

In a report released following the death, Saskatchewan's children's advocate determined that the 10-year-old boy, whose name is under a publication ban and has been called L.T. at the inquest, had behavioural issues and probably should not have been in the community unsupervised. Because he was under 12, he could not be charged under the Youth Criminal Justice Act.

Wiebe said the six members of the inquest jury picked up on the fact that there were failures in the system and both children had fallen through the cracks to some extent.

"I thought their recommendations were thoughtful, they were based on the evidence," she said.

The recommendations were mainly directed towards the Ministry of Social Services and the Yorkton Tribal Council Child and Family Services. They ranged from improving mental health supports to funding a facility for children under 12 who have complex needs.

"Through the evidence these last two weeks, it was loud and clear that some children are better served in this province than others," Wiebe added.

The inquest heard from 27 witnesses over two weeks.

"It was very emotional," Wiebe said. "It's heartbreaking for anyone to hear that kind of evidence. There were a lot of tears in the courtroom."

• Lee Bonneau inquest: Family services official in tears during testimony

Cpl. Donna Zawislak, who was the lead RCMP investigator on the case, had testified that the 10-year-old boy, L.T., had been known to police and was the subject of complaints including inappropriate sexual behaviour, animal cruelty and break and enters.

The inquest also heard that L.T. had been hearing voices.

• Boy accused of killing 6-year-old was hearing voices

Sheri Woods, the lawyer representing the boy, said on Friday that she was satisfied with the recommendations.

L.T. 'doing well'

She said the jury considered the fact that the system "failed two families."

Woods said her client is "receiving the care and the treatment that he likely should have received a very long time ago and he's doing well."

Tammy Kirkland, spokeswoman for the Ministry of Social Services, said the case is "deeply tragic."

"We're in a much better place today to respond to the needs of children and families because of accountability measures like this," she said.

She added that the ministry will review the recommendations before it provides a formal response.

Joanne Moser, the lawyer representing the Yorkton Tribal Council Child and Family Services, said the recommendations that recognized a need for more funding for the agency were particularly helpful.

Inquest learns about both boys

Much of the testimony has examined how authoritiesacted, or failed to act, on incidents and behavioural problems exhibited by L.T.

The jury also learned, through testimony from Lee's mother, how the six-year-old was apprehended and placed into foster care.

• Lee Bonneau's father says social services ripped apart family

• Mother of Lee Bonneau testifies at inquest into boy's death

As well they heard from the parents of Bonneau's suspected killer. The jury learned, through them and other witnesses, that there was alcohol abuse in the boy's home. L.T. also had a condition known as Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder and supports and treatment for his mental health needs were difficult to obtain.

• Emotional testimony from parents of 'L.T.', alleged killer of Lee Bonneau

Police and school officials also testified at the inquest, talking about reports they sent to child protection agents concerning L.T.'s sexually inappropriate and violent behaviour. Even though there were multiple reports about L.T., there were many examples where no follow up was done or was incomplete.