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Facts and key dates in Ashley Smith case

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 11 Dec, 2014 04:39 PM

Canadian prison authorities on Thursday rejected core recommendations made by the inquest into the horrific choking death of troubled teen Ashley Smith. Here are some facts:

Childhood: Ashley Smith, of Moncton, N.B., was born Jan. 29, 1988, and adopted a few days later.

Youth: By age 15, she had several encounters with the law, ending up in secure youth custody in New Brunswick for throwing crab apples at a postal worker Oct. 21, 2003. Her initial 30-day sentence increased dramatically through in-custody incidents and self-harming behaviour. She spent most of her time in segregation.

Here are some key dates after that:

Oct. 31, 2006: Smith, 18, moves from provincial youth custody in New Brunswick to the federal adult Nova Institution in Truro, N.S.

Oct. 19, 2007, Smith, 19, chokes to death at Grand Valley Institution in Kitchener, Ont. Prison guards, under orders not to intervene, videotaped her as she died.

Oct. 31, 2012: Troubling videos shown to Ashley Smith inquest under Dr. John Carlisle.

Nov. 1, 2012: After Smith jailhouse video screened, Prime Minister Stephen Harper calls conduct of prison authorities "completely unacceptable."

Jan. 14, 2013: Inquest begins hearing from witnesses.

Jan. 21, 2013: Inquest sees video of Smith's final moments.

Dec. 2, 2013: Dr. Carlisle charges jury. Jurors begin deliberations.

Dec. 19, 2013: Jury returns homicide verdict along with 104 recommendations.

Dec. 11, 2014: Government responds to recommendations.

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