Coroner's Inquest Begins Into 2020 Death of Regis Korchinski-Paquet A coroner's inquest opened today into the death of Regis Korchinski-Paquet, a Toronto woman who fell from a highrise balcony in May 2020 while police were in her home. The 14-day inquest will hear from 15 witnesses but cannot assign criminal responsibility. A coroner's inquest is set to begin today to examine the death of Regis Korchinski-Paquet, a Toronto woman who fell from a highrise balcony while police were in her home more than six years ago. Korchinski-Paquet, a woman of Ukrainian, Black and Indigenous ancestry, died on May 27, 2020 after police responded to calls about a family dispute at the apartment. She was 29. Her death came on the heels of the police killing of George Floyd, a Black man from Minneapolis. That killing spurred further protests amid growing calls to defund the police.Police watchdog cleared Toronto police of wrongdoingIt also cast a spotlight on how police interact with people experiencing mental health crises. Ontario's police watchdog investigated the case and eventually cleared Toronto police of wrongdoing in Korchinski-Paquet's death. The Special Investigations Unit found it happened as she was trying to move from her apartment balcony to an adjacent one. The inquest was announced earlier this year and is slated to last 14 days.Fifteen witnesses are expected to take the stand. The inquest jury does not assign criminal responsibility, but it may make recommendations aimed at preventing similar deaths in the future. The chief coroner's office does not have the authority to impose the recommendations, however. On the anniversary of her death this year, Korchinski-Paquet's parents joined advocates in calling for the recommendations issued in coroner's inquests to be binding and implemented within a reasonable timeframe.Her mother, Claudette Beals, also said there should be a different system in place to investigate allegations of wrongdoing against police officers. She added she has no faith in police investigating police. My daughter's been gone for six years and no one's held responsible for that, Beals said in a news conference at the provincial legislature. The inquest is set to examine the circumstances of the death that drew national attention.Family advocates seek binding inquest recommendationsIt also comes amid continued debate over policing and mental health responses in Canada. Protesters previously gathered to mark the first anniversary of Korchinski-Paquet's death in Toronto in May 2021. Demonstrators surrounded a court services vehicle following the arrest of three individuals during those events. The inquest is expected to hear testimony from multiple witnesses over its 14 scheduled days.Its jury may issue recommendations once the hearings conclude. Korchinski-Paquet's family and advocates have argued the recommendations should carry more weight. They say binding recommendations with timelines would help prevent similar deaths. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 13, 2026. Paola Loriggio, The Canadian Press.