REGINA — A panel reviewing domestic violence deaths in Saskatchewan is to begin looking at cases next month.
The provincial government says there will be a pilot review of three to five cases this summer, with an interim report expected later this year.
The panel will then begin a formal review of all domestic violence deaths in Saskatchewan between 2005 and 2014.
A final report and recommendations is to be released by the fall of 2017.
Justice Minister Gordon Wyant says the goal is to identify common themes and patterns, and to make recommendations to help the province address domestic violence.
Statistics Canada says Saskatchewan has the highest police-reported family violence rates of all the provinces.
"By understanding the root of these tragic incidents, we will be better equipped to prevent them from happening again and again in our province," Wyant said Thursday.
The panel will include the chief coroner, a domestic violence worker, social services and police.
The government says the panel will only review closed domestic violence death cases. It will not reopen or reinvestigate cases, question investigative techniques or comment on decisions made by judicial bodies.
Because the overall review period ends at 2014, it will not include a murder-suicide of a couple and three children just over a year ago in Tisdale.
