MOM SKEPTICAL OF AUTHORITIES IN JAILHOUSE DEATH

The coroner's inquest regarding her son's death in a police cell is
barely underway and already Duncan's Jeanette Beadle is skeptical of
the proceedings.

"This has been a cover-up from day one," she said as the inquest
recessed for lunch on day one. "People just don't die when they go to
jail."

The five-day inquest began Monday at the Ramada Inn and involves the
death of 27-year-old Adam Wayne Beadle who died primarily of a
methadone overdose on March 2 while incarcerated at the Campbell
River RCMP detachment.

"This is the second death in (Campbell River) police cells since
1997," said Jeanette Beadle. "I hope something happens so this
doesn't happen again."

Since the day her son died, Jeanette Beadle said she has "battled
authorities" to learn the truth. It all began the night he died when
she wasn't told he expired while in jail.

"I got a call from a doctor at the hospital, not the police. I've had
arguments with (coroner) Charleen Phelps and I asked police to get
testimony from people in the adjoining cells but the police 'forgot'
to interview them," she said. "We have statements from every officer
but not the guys who were beside him."

The inquest began Monday morning with a three-woman, two-man jury,
five lawyers representing the various authorities involved and one
more representing the Beadle family.

The purpose for the inquest, said Phelps, is for the jury to
determine the facts of Beadle's death, to make recommendations and to
satisfy the community that the cause of death is not ignored.

"No one is on trial here," Phelps instructed the jury. "You're not
trying to judge the guilt or innocence."

Over the five days, the inquest will hear from at least 28 witnesses,
the first being Ed Wishart.

Wishart is a former minister who now counsels street people with drug
and alcohol problems. The inquest heard that Beadle moved from Duncan
to Campbell River on Feb. 23 and between that time and his death, he
had visited the hospital for drug treatment.

Wishart's had trouble remembering specific dates and events.
Apparently, on Feb. 28, around midnight, Beadle was picked up at the
hospital by Wishart who took him to a restaurant for something to eat
and then back to his home where the two talked throughout the night.

"He was a man who looked and acted very panicky," Wishart told the
inquest. "It was almost impossible to settle him down."

Wishart later learned that Beadle had taken a variety of street drugs
including heroin, cocaine and pills, "anything he could get his hands
on," said Wishart.

Beadle rambled throughout the night, talking about "making things
right with his family," and by morning appeared to be settling down
as the drugs wore off.

By mid-morning, the two men met with the hospital's drug and alcohol
counselor, Wendy Conover, who left Beadle under Wishart's
supervision. The two drove to a local pharmacy where Wishart watched
Beadle take his methadone - a prescribed drug used by recovering
heroin addicts. The two split up and when they met later, Beadle was
in the company of a known drug user. Beadle then asked Wishart for
$40 (Beadle's family deposited $120 in Wishart's account to give to
their son).

"I knew exactly what he was going to do (with the money). He was
going to buy a flap of coke," said Wishart.

But Wishart didn't tell anyone of his suspicion because it would have
ruined the trust the two had established, he said. The inquest also
heard that combining methadone with other drugs is highly dangerous.

The next day, about noon, security guard Pav Purewall saw Beadle at
Discovery Harbour Mall, and described him as friendly but drenched in
sweat. Purewall eventually called police. Beadle was taken to
hospital but walked out before receiving medical attention. At 4:28
p.m., police received another call about an intoxicated male which
turned out to be Beadle. He was arrested at 4:50 p.m., locked up and
around midnight was found unconscious in his cell. He was taken to
hospital where he was pronounced dead.

"We watched the video of him in his cell," said Jeanette Beadle. "He
goes over to the toilet and throws up just before he dies. The
hospital later found a baggy of white powder in his sock. Apparently
it was 'baking soda'. "I want to know how he died. I want the facts."