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BC Coroners Service to hold inquest into Terrace woman's death

Twenty-five-year-old went into medical distress in police cells

A public inquest into the death of a woman who became ill while in police cells two years ago is set to take place this fall.

The BC Coroners Service has scheduled the inquest into the death of Alyssa Josephine Talina George, also known as Alyssa Oleksiuk, to start Oct. 19 in supreme court here.

George, 25, was found in medical distress in cells at the Terrace RCMP detachment September 4, 2013, about 14 hours after she had been taken into custody.

She was taken to Mills Memorial Hospital and later flown to Vancouver General Hospital for more treatment but died September 10, 2013.

The inquest is a formal process allowing for public presentation of evidence relating to a death.

Presiding coroner Donita Kuzma and a jury will hear evidence from witnesses under oath to determine the facts surrounding this death.

The jury will have the opportunity to make recommendations aimed at preventing deaths under similar circumstances.

The inquest is expected to take several days, says the coroners service.