Family of Soleiman Faqiri has 'guarded optimism' as Ontario's top pathologist announces review of death
Yusuf Faqiri and his late brother were close, born just 18 months apart.
“Soleiman...Soleiman’s not coming back,” Faqiri said. “He’s gone and we might never fully get justice for him.”
Soleiman was 30 years old and lived with schizophrenia.
In 2016, he was being held at a Lindsay, Ont. correctional facility, while awaiting a transfer to a mental health facility. He died in a segregation cell in an altercation with guards.
For years, the cause of death was listed as “unascertained.”
In a letter provided by Faqiri, Ontario’s Chief Forensic Pathologist Dr. Michael Pollanen wrote, “I have decided that I will review this case, based on the forthcoming factual brief, and provide an opinion on the cause of death.”
“It’s guarded optimism, because this is long overdue,” Faqiri said.
“My brother didn’t just roll over and die. There were 50 bruises on his body that the coroner said, both his legs and his hands were tied.”
One of Faqiri’s last memories of his brother was on a wintery night just a few months before his death.
“I was running late for work, trying to catch a bus,” he said.
“I didn’t have my toque. He stopped me and said ‘Yusuf wait, wait’ and I said ‘Soleiman, I have to go, leave me alone’ and he gives me his toque and gives me a kiss on my forehead,” Faqiri said, trembling.
“That’s the kind of person he was. He was sincere.”
The Faqiri family lawyer, Edward Marrocco, called it “unusual” for the chief pathologist to weigh in, but welcomed the review.
“The 2017 post-mortem report is based on certain outdated and even incorrect facts,” he told CTV News Toronto in an emailed statement.
“Reviews of post-mortem reports are not an unusual practice during complex death investigations,” said Stephanie Rea with the Office of the Chief Coroner.
Faqiri is calling on charges to be laid, accountability into Soleiman’s death and greater delicacy relating to mental health.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Air traveller complaints to Canadian Transportation Agency hit new high
The Canadian Transportation Agency has hit a record high of more than 71,000 complaints in a backlog. The quasi-judicial regulator and tribunal tasked with settling disputes between customers and the airlines says the backlog is growing because the number of incoming complaints keeps increasing.
LIVE @ 1:15 PT B.C. premier to give announcement related to public drug use
B.C.'s premier is scheduled to give an update Friday about public drug use in the province.
Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
AFN chief says Air Canada offered a 15% discount after her headdress was mishandled
After the Assembly of First Nations' national chief complained to Air Canada about how staffers treated her and her ceremonial headdress on a flight this week, she says the airline responded by offering a 15 per cent discount on her next flight.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
Flight attendant indicted in attempt to record teen girl in airplane bathroom
An American Airlines flight attendant was indicted Thursday after authorities said he tried to secretly record video of a 14-year-old girl using an airplane bathroom last September.
76ers All-Star centre Joel Embiid says he has Bell's palsy
Philadelphia 76ers All-Star centre Joel Embiid has been diagnosed with Bell’s palsy, a form of facial paralysis he says has affected him since before the play-in tournament.
DEVELOPING Bird flu outbreaks: WHO weighs in on public health risk
The current overall public health risk posed by the H5N1 bird flu virus is low, the World Health Organization said on Friday, but urged countries to stay alert for cases of animal-to-human transmission.
Island near Mull of Kintyre for sale for US$3.1 million
An idyllic 453-acre private island is up for sale off the west coast of Scotland and it comes with sandy beaches, puffins galore, seven houses, a pub, a helipad and a flock of black-faced sheep.