WARNING: The main points on this story could also be disturbing to some readers. Discretion is suggested.
Florence Girard’s emaciated stays had been present in Astrid Dahl’s Port Coquitlam dwelling in October 2018. She weighed simply 50.6 kilos when she died.
A coroner’s inquest into what occurred to Girard began on Monday, within the hopes of discovering systemic faults within the system.
Girard, 54, had lived with Dahl for about eight years as part of a residential home-sharing settlement, overseen by the non-profit Kinsight Neighborhood Society.
At Dahl’s trial in 2018, court docket heard she didn’t give Girard her prescriptions or take her to medical appointments for a prolonged time interval, that her well being declined, she stopped consuming and later died.
The official explanation for demise was “malnourishment and hunger.”
Dahl was convicted of failing to supply the necessaries of life in reference to Girard’s demise.
Girard’s sister, Sharon Bursey, was the primary to testify on the inquest on Monday.
She held again tears as she described her sister’s sassy character, how she beloved individuals and swam within the Particular Olympics.
“She beloved meals,” Bursey stated.
“She was at all times obese, so it’s ironic she died the way in which she did.”
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Bursey added she’s heartbroken her sister is gone and died in such a tragic sequence of occasions.
“I noticed the images that the police took — horrific,” Bursey stated.
“I don’t know the way this occurred. She deserved so a lot better, she was beloved. No person deserves that.”
Bursey stated her sister lived in a gaggle dwelling earlier than transferring to Dahl’s home and he or she thought the 2 had a tremendous relationship.
Nonetheless, she realized later that Girard lived in a collection with a child gate so she couldn’t go wherever. Her window was blocked and the film Titanic was performed on a steady loop.
“It’s like she was thrown within the gap of a jail,” Bursey stated.
“Final 4 years of her life was terrible. Starring on the partitions and watching Titanic again and again.”
The inquest heard that Girard was put in authorities care in highschool. The household was being raised by a single dad who had seven children residing with him, so Bursey stated Girard and one other youngster had been put into care.
Bursey stated when her sister was older, she couldn’t take her in as a result of on the time Neighborhood Dwelling BC wouldn’t compensate members of the family.
She stated for the primary 5 years that Girard was with Dahl, every little thing appeared nice.
Bursey final noticed her sister in April 2018 and famous that Girard was skinny, however thought she was simply ageing.
“She was skinny. In hindsight, I want I did one thing,” Bursey stated of the final time she noticed her sister.
“She was skinny. I imply if I guessed, I’d’ve guessed in all probability 80 kilos — however she was solely 4’11”.”
Bursey — who introduced a photograph to the inquest of her household with Girard sitting within the center — has stated that she is “so scared” that related deaths will occur once more if no modifications to the present system are made.
The inquest is anticipated to proceed on Tuesday.
— with information from The Canadian Press
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