Glen Korstrom
Northern News Services

NNSL (Aug 30/99) - Fort Good Hope and surrounding communities are in mourning after the death of Caroline Boniface who was medevaced to Edmonton with severe brain injuries earlier this month.

In Colville Lake, Bern Will Brown said the Fort Good Hope band office had phoned to request the community hold a memorial service at 3 p.m. on Aug. 26.

Brown said he thought the reason for that time was that was when it was understood the life support system would be disconnected.

In Fort Good Hope, RCMP Cpl. Marion Lemothe said he talked to the hospital in Edmonton about 5 p.m. on Aug. 26 and the hospital confirmed that Boniface, who was born in 1960, had passed on.

Many family members made trips to Edmonton to be near Boniface while she was still alive. Family in Fort Good Hope declined to comment more on her condition.

Lemothe confirmed that there was an allegation of an assault against Boniface on Aug. 13 and that investigation is continuing.

Still, Lemothe said doctors had spoken with RCMP members in Edmonton and Boniface's death had nothing to do with any assault she may have been a victim of.

"Her death was related to the extreme intoxication level she was in when she was admitted," Lemothe said.

"I'm not sure what the official cause of death will be but it will be as a result of the drinking and not from any assault."