Unanswered Questions: The Unseen Inquest in Edward Bronstein's Tragic Death

Four years after Edward Bronstein's life tragically ended while he was in the custody of California Highway Patrol officers, a critical piece of public accountability remains missing: a coroner's inquest. Despite impassioned calls from civil rights attorneys and advocates demanding a transparent examination of the circumstances surrounding his death, the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner's office has firmly decided against holding such a public proceeding.

Bronstein, 38, died in March 2020 during a DUI stop that escalated dramatically.

While restrained by officers, a nurse administered a sedative, a series of events that would ultimately lead to his demise. His death has since become a stark emblem in the ongoing debate over police conduct and the crucial need for public scrutiny when individuals die in law enforcement custody.

The initial autopsy by the coroner's office attributed Bronstein's death to "acute methamphetamine intoxication with a contributing factor of restraint." However, an independent pathologist hired by Bronstein's family reached a vastly different conclusion, asserting he died from "complications of airway obstruction while prone and restrained," with methamphetamine being only a contributing factor.

This stark divergence in findings underscores the complexity and contention of the case.

Further investigations have only deepened the controversy. An internal LAPD probe reportedly found that officers violated department policies in their handling of Bronstein. A federal civil rights lawsuit filed by his family subsequently resulted in a significant settlement, and a federal judge explicitly ruled that Bronstein's constitutional rights had been violated.

These developments, say advocates, make the absence of a public inquest even more troubling.

Coroner's inquests, while now rare in California, serve a vital function: to publicly investigate and air the facts surrounding a death, particularly when it involves law enforcement or other sensitive circumstances.

They are not criminal trials but are designed to foster transparency, build public trust, and offer a public forum for accountability that court filings and private settlements often cannot fully provide. Historically, they were a common tool for public inquiry in the state.

The Los Angeles County Coroner's office defended its decision, stating that they prefer to rely on the criminal investigation conducted by the District Attorney's office and any independent reviews by the Attorney General.

They expressed a belief that the "truth has come out" through various court filings and the aforementioned settlement. However, this stance has been met with significant pushback.

Civil rights attorneys and community advocates argue that the official investigations, while necessary, do not replace the unique value of a public inquest.

They contend that an inquest offers an opportunity for direct public witness testimony, cross-examination, and a comprehensive public airing of facts that a jury might not fully address or that remain obscured within legal documents. Such a forum, they believe, is essential for public education and for restoring confidence in the justice system, especially in cases where the state is implicated in a citizen's death.

Across other states and nations, such as England and Canada, coroner's inquests remain a crucial mechanism for public accountability in similar deaths.

While California state law grants coroners the discretion to hold an inquest, it does not mandate it. This discretionary power, in this case, has led to a decision that leaves many questions lingering and reinforces a perception of a system struggling with true transparency when it comes to deaths in custody.

As the conversation around police reform and accountability continues to evolve, the case of Edward Bronstein stands as a poignant reminder of the enduring demand for open scrutiny and the quest for answers when a life is lost under such deeply disturbing circumstances.