IQALUIT - A coroner's inquest into the death of an Iqaluit woman who died shortly after being in police custody has been delayed until the new year, said the family's lawyer.

Elisapee Michael, 52, died in an Ottawa hospital in August 2009 from injuries she sustained falling down the stairs of Iqaluit's Nova Inn. Michael, who was intoxicated, was taken to the Qikiqtani General Hospital where she was arrested for causing a disturbance, the RCMP said at the time.

The Mounties had added after Michael sobered up at the Iqaluit RCMP detachment, police were told there was no room for her at the hospital.

But later, the RCMP noticed she was in distress and called an ambulance. Michael was taken back to the hospital then medevaced to Ottawa where she died five days later.

Scott Wheildon, lawyer for Michael's family, said they are disappointed the coroner's inquest is not going on as planned this month.

"The family is disappointed it's not going ahead because it has gone on for a significant period of time and they want some resolution to this unfortunate incident," he said. "But they are hopeful an inquest can be held earlier rather than later and are just waiting to hear back from the coroner as to the dates that are fixed. It is troubling to the family that dates haven't been fixed although we are hearing that it may be February of next year."

The family had called for a public inquiry into the incident last year.

Nunavut's coroner's office would not comment at this time.

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