An inquest into the deaths of Fabian Hart and Christopher Campbell, which occurred while both men were in police custody, began Friday via Zoom after a brief delay. The proceedings are part of a broader effort to inform the public and help prevent similar incidents in the future.

Both Campbell and Hart were taken into custody by the London Police Service following their respective arrests. Campbell, 55, was apprehended on October 11, 2018, after being seen driving erratically in south London. His vehicle ended up in a ditch, and he was arrested for impaired driving. After being placed in the backseat of a police cruiser, he began snoring en route to downtown. Once at police headquarters, he stopped breathing. Despite officers administering CPR and his subsequent transport to the hospital, he was pronounced dead. During the inquest, a statement from Campbell’s former partner resonated with emotion: “Chris was a big man with an even bigger personality…I miss you; we miss you.” In the coming days, toxicologist testimony is expected to reveal that fentanyl, cocaine, methamphetamine, and ethanol were present in Campbell’s blood and urine, according to inquest counsel Indira Stewart.

In a separate incident on February 1, 2021, 34-year-old Fabian Hart was arrested at his former partner’s apartment and subsequently booked and held in a downtown cell. When asked if he had consumed any substances that day, Hart admitted to having three shots of vodka that morning and identified himself as an alcoholic, warning that he would soon begin experiencing withdrawal symptoms. Detained for approximately 16 hours, Hart expressed concern that his withdrawal could trigger a seizure. Ultimately, he became unresponsive and was taken to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

The inquest, which is expected to run for 14 days with testimony from about 20 witnesses, aims to shed light on these tragic events and foster changes that could prevent future losses.