Jurors begin hearing details on man who died in custody at Hamilton detention centre

More than four years after 26-year-old Zakery Rogers was found without vital signs in the Hamilton-Wentworth Detention Centre, an inquest into his death is now underway.

Jurors began hearing testimony Monday from Rogers’ sister, who spoke about his time in custody, and who he was before being arrested.

Over the next five days, five jury members will hear intimate details about Rogers’ final days.

“He really cared about people and he had a lot of friends, and he would give the shirt off his back for people,” said Rogers’ sister Kylee, “so I know it would be important to him to make these changes to prevent this from happening in the future.”

Rogers was awaiting trial for an alleged string of break and enters when he was found without vital signs in his cell and later died Jan. 31, in 2021.

Just days before this death, Rogers was sent to Hamilton General Hospital, after staff had to resuscitate him at the detention centre found on Barton Street East.

WATCH MORE: Family remembers man who died in Barton Street jail before inquest

His former partner, Tesla Dolan, shared a statement with the jury Monday morning, which included pictures and letters from her children to her father.

“It was just very emotional to listen to, especially because the girls were so young when it happened,” said Dolan, “so going through it and reflecting back on those letters, and also being able to share that it’s emotional for me, so I want them to able to see that he is cared about.”

The jury heard from Dr. Michael Pollanen, Ontario’s Chief Forensic Pathologist, who testified to the post-mortem exam done on Rogers, which found issues with his heart.

Kylee had also spoken to the jury.

Kylee said her role in the inquiry is incredibly important, as it gives her family the opportunity to ask some of the questions they had been holding onto for more than four years.

“You’re kind of living with it everyday, especially with the death having been ruled ‘unascertained’, it was difficult to find any sort of peace or closure,” said Kylee.

At the end of this week, the jury will have the chance to review the evidence they heard throughout the inquiry and make recommendations to avoid future deaths in custody if they see fit.

“Now as this is coming to a close, I am trying to focus on things that I know he would want me to be doing and living my life for him,” said Kylee. “I know it’s not going to bring him back but we’re hopeful just to keep his legacy going forward and to prevent this.”

READ MORE: Inquest begins into death of 26-year-old at Hamilton jail