Regis Korchinski-Paquet's Family Won't Talk To Investigators Due To Alleged Leaked Info

Questions still remain unanswered and now Regis Korchinski-Paquet's family won't be speaking to the SIU this week after all. According to the family's lawyer, that comes after apparently private details of what transpired were allegedly leaked to a Toronto news outlet. The 29-year-old Regis Korchinski-Paquet fell from the balcony of her Toronto apartment on May 27.

On Monday, Ontario's Special Investigations Units updated to say it had interviewed the responding police officers and other witnesses and would speak to family members this week.

However, the family's lawyer Knia Singh said on Wednesday, June 3, that he is "not comfortable" with the family speaking to the SIU.

Singh says that's due to a story published in the Toronto Sun on June 2 in which apparently unconfirmed details of what happened before the tragic death of the 29-year-old woman were allegedly "leaked." 

"Based on this article being printed yesterday, that's going to be put on hold," Singh told Newstalk1010.

"I'm not comfortable with the family speaking to SIU when there's subject officers and witness officers may be implicated in providing information that they shouldn't.

"It's very irresponsible of potential police witnesses and subject officers to be leaking information to media."

It should be noted that this is an unconfirmed allegation.

Later on Wednesday, the SIU addressed Singh's claims in a publicly-issued statement.*

In part, that release noted: "It is imperative that the public have confidence in the SIU’s investigations. Accordingly, the SIU director has today written to the Toronto Police Service to ask that it takes immediate steps to prevent further releases of information about what occurred inside the apartment."

And a statement provided to Narcity by email by Toronto Police said: "Any unauthorized release of information is taken seriously by the TPS and the matter is being investigated by Professional Standards."

Narcity also reached out to the SIU for comment.

The gist of the Sun article, which is credited to anonymous sources, is that Korchinski-Paquet had allegedly barricaded herself outside on her balcony before her death.

"To me, this is an attempt to shape a narrative," Singh suggested. "Police have been criticized for a long time in the city for not attending to mental health crises in a proper fashion."

Singh had previously released details of what happened according to the family. The victim's mother initially claimed police had pushed her off the balcony.

That statement has since been retracted as the family was unable to witness what exactly happened.

Singh told CP24 that the family will “preferably” take part in the SIU investigation, but not until they are comfortable and the alleged leak has been resolved.

A recent peaceful protest brought thousands of supporters for #JusticeForRegis and Black Lives Matter in Toronto.

*This article has been updated.