Desmond killings: Nova Scotia premier not ruling out public inquiry
HALIFAX — Nova Scotia’s premier is calling a horrific murder-suicide involving a former Canadian soldier almost six months ago “a tragic event,” but the province is still not prepared to call a public inquiry — yet.
Stephen McNeil said any steps to investigate the deaths further wouldn’t be taken until family members and the province’s medical examiner are briefed on the findings of an internal health-care system review in the Lionel Desmond case.
“The family is being briefed and it is, in my view, the right place to start,” he told reporters Thursday. “The family deserves the accounting first.”
Nova Scotia Health Authority officials will meet with Desmond’s family next week to share the findings of the confidential review into how the province’s health system dealt with the former soldier before he killed his family and himself in January.