Radiohead stage collapse

Inquiry into Radiohead stage collapse finally kicks off in Toronto

An inquest into the stage collapse that killed Radiohead drum technician Scott Johnson at Toronto's Downsview Park in 2012 is finally set to proceed this week after nearly seven years of anger, confusion and disappointment over an apparent lack of action.

"The people who should be held accountable are still not being held accountable," said the British band's frontman, Thom Yorke, last summer during a concert at Scotiabank Arena—the band's first show in Toronto since 2012's fatal stage collapse.

"The silence is fucking deafening."

Yorke was referring to the breakdown of a case that saw Ontario's Ministry of Labour lay 13 charges against Live Nation, Optex Staging and Services, and engineer Domenic Cugliari in connection with 33-year-old Johnson's death on June 16, 2012.

All 13 of those charges, brought forward as the result of year-long Ministry of Labour investigation, were stayed in September of 2017 when Ontario Court of Justice judge Ann Nelson ruled that there had been too many delays for the case to continue to trial.

Johnson's family and friends have been waiting for answers ever since.

Today, the process of figuring out why the young man was killed (and how to prevent something similar from happening in the future) moves forward once again with a coroner's inquest.

Roughly 25 witnesses are expected to appear before a jury over the next three weeks as part of the inquest, according to the Canadian Press, which notes that the process will "examine the circumstances around Johnson's death, but will not assign blame."

Radiohead drummer Philip Selway and Scott's father, Ken Johnson, are currently in Toronto for the inquest, which started this morning around 9 a.m.

Lead photo by

syfractal


Latest Videos



Latest Videos


Join the conversation Load comments

Latest in Music

Phoenix Concert Theatre won't be closing in Toronto next year after all

There's a three-day Indigenous music festival in Toronto next month

Toronto is about to get inundated with Taylor Swift themed events and pop-ups

Rufus Du Sol announce Toronto concert date

Win tickets and epic prize pack to see Pitbull in Toronto

Rogers Centre in Toronto gets $8 million upgrade for Taylor Swift concerts

Here are all the times Taylor Swift came to Toronto on a concert tour

Drake and his dad make surprise appearance at Toronto bar