Final Report and Recommendations

The Honourable Judge Paul Scovil released his final report in Port Hawkesbury, N.S., on Wednesday, January 31, 2024.

The report includes 25 recommendations meant to improve supports for Canadian Veterans and their families, to expand access to health-care services for African Nova Scotians, and to strengthen the application and licencing processes for firearms.

As per the Fatality Investigations Act, the final report and recommendations have been filed with the Provincial Court of Nova Scotia. A copy was also provided to the Minister of Justice.

Read the News Release

Read the Desmond Fatality Inquiry - Final Report

Inquiry Basis

On January 3, 2017, the bodies of Lionel Desmond, a veteran of the war in Afghanistan, his wife Shanna, their 10-year-old daughter Aaliyah, and Mr. Desmond’s mother Brenda, were found in a home in Upper Big Tracadie, Guysborough County. It is believed that Mr. Desmond took the lives of his family members, before he took his own life.

Nova Scotia’s Chief Medical Examiner, Dr. Matt Bowes, reviewed the circumstances of the deaths and recommended to the Minister of Justice that an inquiry be held under the province’s Fatality Investigations Act.

A recommendation under Sec. 26 of the Act requires the Minister to order that an inquiry be held. With that order, the Chief Judge of the Provincial Court of Nova Scotia appoints a Judge to conduct the inquiry and make recommendations on any issues identified in the order of the Minister.  

Judge Warren Zimmer was originally appointed to preside over this Inquiry; however, his status as a Provincial Court judge ended on June 30, 2023. Shortly after, Judge Paul Scovil, a per diem (part-time) judge of the Provincial Court, was appointed to complete the final Inquiry report and recommendations.

Inquiry Mandate

The Inquiry’s mandate is to determine the circumstances under which these deaths occurred, as well as some specific issues, including, but not limited to whether Lionel Desmond and his family had access to the appropriate mental health and domestic violence intervention services leading up to their deaths. Read the complete Ministerial Order.

Inquiry Schedule

On May 21, 2019, the Desmond Fatality Inquiry began in Guysborough County with opening remarks by Judge Zimmer, followed by Applications to Participate at the fatality inquiry, pursuant to Section 36 of the Fatality Investigations Act. The evidentiary hearings began on Jan. 27, 2020, and continued until March 2, 2020.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the proceedings were adjourned until the judge was confident they could continue safely and in compliance with public health directives. With that in mind, the venue for the proceedings moved from Guysborough County to the Port Hawkesbury courthouse.

Closing submissions from counsel and the parties took place in April 2022.