Nine groups will have legal standing in the inquiry investigating the death of Howard Hyde, who died after being Tasered by police more than a year ago.
Hyde, 45, was schizophrenic. On Nov. 22, 2007, he assaulted his wife, was arrested and taken to a Halifax Regional Police cell. His family has argued he should have been taken to the Nova Scotia Hospital instead.
During a struggle, police Tasered him twice, and he was rushed to hospital.
Hyde was cleared, but then died 30 hours later.
Wednesday, Judge Anne Derrick held a brief hearing to determine who would get legal standing in the case. Hyde’s family, the Halifax police, Capital Health District Authority and two emergency-room doctors, the Canadian Mental Health Association and the Schizophrenia Society of Nova Scotia, the Nova Scotia Government Employees’ Union and the provincial Justice Department will be represented at the hearing.
The inquiry will reconvene April 22 to determine preliminary legal matters, but no evidence will be heard until July and August.
