Death of Mission woman who sat wounded, paralyzed for days subject of coroner’s inquest

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) -The family of a Mission woman who died after she sat wounded and paralyzed for days following a shooting in 2008 isn’t sure what to make of a coroner’s inquest that’s moving ahead, a decade later.

The RCMP responded to reports of shots fired, but never got out of their cruisers to investigate.

Mark Surakka is the step-father of Lisa Dudley. He says he doesn’t want to pre-judge the hearing.

“It’s been so long. Remember, this is almost 10 years ago. And I don’t know what is in the interim — so much has happened and I don’t know what information will be offered and who will be called as witnesses.”

Dudley was shot twice while sitting in her kitchen. She was found four days later and taken to the hospital, where she died following a cardiac arrest at age 37. Dudley’s partner, Guthrie McKay, was also shot but died at the scene.

Four men were convicted in the case. A lawsuit against the Mounties was thrown out in February, with a judge ruling it was filed too late.

Investigators had said the shooting was over a dispute involving a marijuana grow-op. The first RCMP officer who responded to the call never got out of his police cruiser and later reported he didn’t see anything unusual. In a subsequent police review, that Mountie was found guilty of disgraceful conduct and deducted one day’s pay.

The inquest into Dudley’s death will begin on June 11, 2018. A coroner’s inquest can’t lead to charges or lay blame, but can offer recommendations to prevent similar situations.

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