Manitoba

Drugs likely snuck into Brandon jail in Kinder eggs after inmate visited doctor: judge

A Manitoba judge says Jean Paul Beaumont, who died of a morphine overdose in 2012, probably got the drug from two other prisoners who snuck it into the jail in Kinder Surprise eggs.

More precautions recommended after alleged gang member's 2012 overdose death

A provincial court judge recommends corrections officers take more precautions to avoid drugs being smuggled into jails by inmates escorted into the community for appointments. (CBC)

A Manitoba judge says an inmate who died of a morphine overdose probably got the drug from two other prisoners who snuck it into the jail in Kinder Surprise eggs.

Provincial court Judge John Combs is recommending corrections officers take more precautions to avoid drugs being smuggled behind bars by inmates escorted into the community for appointments.

Inmates should not be told when or where they are going for medical or community visits, Combs said.

Inmates also should not be able to use typical washroom facilities while out on visits, he said.

Combs oversaw an inquest into the death of Jean Paul Beaumont, an alleged high-ranking motorcycle gang member who overdosed at the Brandon Correctional Centre in 2012.

The judge's inquest report says Beaumont probably got morphine from two other inmates who conspired to sneak in drugs while one was on a doctor's visit.

The drugs were placed in hollow chocolate eggs and attached to a toilet tank in the hospital where the inmate was seeing a doctor, the report says.