Inquest announced into swing stage tragedy deaths

TORONTO — The inquest into the deaths of Fayzullo Fazilov, Alexsandrs Bondarevs, Vladimir Korostin, and Aleksey Blumberg, the victims of the 2009 Christmas Eve swing stage collapse in Toronto, has been scheduled.

The date was announced by Dr. David Cameron, regional supervising coroner for inquests, March 11. Fazilov, 31, Bondarevs, 24, Korostin, 40 and Blumberg, 38, died Dec. 24, 2009, from multiple injuries sustained when they fell from scaffolding at a construction site in Toronto.

The inquest, mandatory under the Coroners Act, will examine the circumstances surrounding these deaths. The jury may make recommendations aimed at preventing further deaths.

The inquest is expected to last 14 days and will hear from approximately 12 witnesses. It will begin at 9:30 a.m. on Monday, May 4, at the Coroner’s Courts, Courtroom A, 25 Morton Shulman Ave., Toronto. Dr. John Carlisle will preside as inquest coroner. Rebecca Edward and Amal Chaudry will be counsel to the coroner.