News Releases

Quebec Region

News Release

Communiqué

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DONNACONA, QC, April 8, 2004 - At about 6:00 p.m. on April 7, 2004, during an inmate activity outing, Saalim Speede, an inmate at Donnacona Institution, a maximum-security federal penitentiary, was mortally wounded by another inmate with a hand-made pick.

Resuscitation was performed by the Institution's health care services until the paramedics arrived. He was pronounced dead at around 7:00 p.m. in a Donnacona medical clinic. The inmate's family was notified.

Saalim Speede, 22, had been serving a sentence of 6 years and 4 months since December 8, 2000, for armed robbery, causing bodily harm, possession of a firearm and unlawful possession of prohibited weapons.

A coroner's inquest will be held to determine the cause of death. The Sûreté du Québec and the Correctional Service of Canada will also conduct a separate investigation into the circumstances surrounding this death.

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For further information, media representatives are asked to contact:

Carl Pelletier
Assistant Warden, Management Services
(418) 285-2455 ext. 2101