Inquest Scheduled into the Death of Arian Pristine

Inquest Schedule and Proceedings

The mandatory coroner’s inquest will open at 9:30 a.m. on Monday, September 14, 2026, as required by the Coroners Act. Dr. Ronald Goldstein will preside over the proceedings as presiding officer, while Roger Shallow will serve as inquest counsel, according to the Office of the Chief Coroner. The hearing is slated to last five days and is expected to hear testimony from approximately five witnesses.

To ensure public access, the proceedings will be conducted entirely by videoconference. Members of the public and media outlets can observe the hearings live through the official First Class Facilitation virtual portal provided by the coroner’s office. Additional background information regarding the function and scope of Ontario inquests is maintained by the provincial government on the Ontario coroners inquiries page.

Background and Legal Mandate

Mr. Pristine died at the age of 35 on June 8, 2020, following an interaction with officers from the York Regional Police earlier that same day. Under the Coroners Act, an inquest is mandatory when a person dies as a result of an interaction with police officers, ensuring an independent public review of the incident.

While an inquest does not assign legal blame or criminal responsibility, the jury will examine the direct sequence of events leading to Mr. Pristine’s death. At the conclusion of the testimony, the jury holds the authority to issue recommendations aimed at preventing similar fatalities in the future.

Media and Public Inquiries

Official communications and credential requests for the proceedings are managed through the Office of the Chief Coroner. Inquiries can be directed to Stephanie Rea at Stephanie.Rea@ontario.ca.