Family looking for answers following suicide of jail inmate Yousef Hussein

The family of the man who committed suicide at the Ottawa Carleton Detention Centrethis week after waiting two years to go trial isdemandinganswers about the circumstances surrounding his death.

Yousef Hussein, 27, had been on suicide watch since April 9 and was found dead in his jail cell by guards three days later.

A Jordanian national with an expired student visa, Hussein had been awaiting trial after being arrested two years ago on a number of charges, including six counts of sexual assault.

"Everybody is in total ruins, in shock," family spokesperson Ahmad Abouali told CBC News.
"There are so many questions. Where were the guards? Aren't they supposed to check on him? Where are the cameras? Where was the nurse?" said Abouali, who went to view Hussein's body Tuesday.

Told wife he wanted to end life

Hussein's wife alerted authorities that, during one of their phone calls,he said he wanted to end his life,Aboualisaid

It was during that call, according to Abouali, that Hussein saidhe'd been told his two-year wait for a trial would be extended another year.

"We had been told the case was ready to go to trial, so we don't know what happened," said Abouali.

We demand a real investigation [into]what really happened toYousef.- Family spokespersonAhmadAbouali

Furthermore, because of the extended wait, jail authorities had apparently told Hussein he'd have to moveto another facility further away the Central East Correctional Centrein Lindsay, Ont., said Abouali.

Abouali said Husseinhad refused,"and that's when he was placed in segregation."

"Hussein's sister had had permission to visit on Saturday but was turned away," said Abouali, adding that being placed insegregationwas the final straw for Hussein.

"He told his wife he didn't want to live any longer."

Advocate says case underscores crisis at OCDC

Catherine Latimer, the executive directorof the John Howard Society of Canada, said that although she does not know the details of the case,Husseinmay have faceda perfect storm of many of the worst problems facing the system.

Those problems include Hussein's prolonged wait in pre-trial detention, the use of administrative segregation, and the lack of mental health services, she said.

"I would say [the system's]at a crisis point," said Latimer. "So we've been pressing really hard to see some immediate changes."

While Latimer saidthe task forcerecentlyannouncedby Ontario'sMinister of Community Safety and Correctional ServicesYasir Naqviis welcome, there are changes that can be made right away to relieve the situation.

In particular, advocates have been calling for an immediateeasing ofthe bail system, Latimer said. Keeping more non-violent criminals out of jailwould alleviateovercrowding, which in turn would open up more resources for dealing with problems like mental health for those who remain incarcerated, she said.

Meanwhile, as Aboualiandthe family arrangethe funeral for Hussein, he saidthere is a cloud of questions that remain.

"We don't know what happened," said Abouali. "We demand a real investigation [into]what really happened toYousef."