PRINCE RUPERT, B.C. — A coroner's jury has made 25 recommendations after reviewing evidence in the deaths of a Prince Rupert, B.C., mother and her severely autistic son.
Thirty-nine-year-old Angie Robinson killed her herself on April 3, 2014, after taking the life of her autistic 16-year-old son Robert.
The jury heard the Ministry of Children and Family Development had received nine reports about incidents of child-safety protection, but closed the mother's case in December 2013 because there were no new events.
Among its recommendations, the jury called for the ministry to provide child safety training to social workers dealing with special needs children to identify when to involve child services.
It also called for a review of the autism funding cap of $6,000 per year for children over age 6 and consider increasing funding to ensure higher need children are being accommodated.
The jury also recommended that the ministry ensure caregivers of special needs children, living with conditions such a mental health issues or domestic violence, are assessed to determine appropriate support requirements.
