Kinew James spent years in solitary confinement, inquest hears

Kinew James spent years at a time in solitary confinement, one of many stressors discussed Monday at an inquest into her 2013 death in custody.

The final witnesses, including the warden of Saskatoon's Regional Psychiatric Centre where James died, are due to testify Tuesday.

James, 35, died of cardiac arrest in January 2013 after she was found unresponsive in her cell at the facility. She was serving a 15-year sentence for manslaughter, assault, uttering threats, arson, mischief and obstruction of justice.

The inquest heard Monday that James spent much of the period from 2006-11 in solitary confinement, as well as other lengthy periods. She was placed there after conflicts with staff or fellow inmates, for destroying property or for multiple incidents of self-harm.

It got to the point that she began to request, even demand, that she be placed in solitary confinement.

"She was feeling overwhelmed at how difficult it was to get along with other people," her psychologist, Dr. Anne Dimito, testified during Monday's session at the Sheraton Cavalier hotel.

Dimito said James was the most difficult person to connect with in her years of work in corrections. One lawyer asked if James' time in solitary, her 35 transfers, her childhood trauma and other factors were likely causes. Dimito said it's possible.

Dimito also said James' diabetes management wasn't part of her psychological treatment plan. The inquest earlier heard James' blood sugar levels were highly erratic in the weeks leading to her death.

The fact-finding inquest is examining the events leading up to James's death, including her medical history.