Police officer's duty of care the focus of Ontario appeal in 2016 death of Indigenous woman in custody

Arguments in the appeal of a London, Ont., police officer’s conviction in the death of an Indigenous woman in custody focused Wednesday on an officer’s obligations and ability to assess when an intoxicated prisoner’s condition becomes life threatening.

Const. Nicholas Doering was sentenced in September 2020 after being convicted of criminal negligence causing death and failing to provide the necessaries of life to Debralee Chrisjohn, 39, from Oneida of the Thames First Nation.

Doering arrested Chrisjohn, who was high on methamphetamines, on Sept. 7, 2016, before transferring her to the custody of Ontario Provincial Police, who had an outstanding warrant for her arrest. 

At Doering’s trial, court heard Doering lied