By Canadian Press

Quebec coroner calls for better communication after father kills children, self

Apr 12, 2022 | 2:59 PM

MONTREAL — A Quebec coroner’s report into the 2019 deaths of a Montreal father and his two young children is calling for more communication between public health authorities to monitor the risk of domestic violence after suicide attempts.

The bodies of Jonathan Pomares, his seven-year-old son Hugo and five-year-old daughter Élise were found on Oct. 22, 2019, in the family’s east-end Montreal house and were later confirmed as two murders followed by a suicide.

Coroner Stéphanie Gamache issued several recommendations today, saying there’s a need to change rules surrounding confidentiality on patient files.

The coroner’s report states that shortly before the tragedy, Pomares was taken to the hospital for a suicide attempt after his former wife told him she wanted to end the relationship.

Pomares, 40, was seen by three psychiatrists and was released after the third one — who had not spoken to Pomares’ ex-wife — concluded he didn’t represent an imminent danger.

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Gamache said suicide attempts in the context of separation can lead to a real threat of homicide and recommended that Montreal’s local public health authorities improve psychological evaluation to involve family members.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published on April 12, 2022.

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This story was produced with the financial assistance of the Meta and Canadian Press News Fellowship.

The Canadian Press