Two Winnipeg police officers who shot and killed a knife-wielding man during a domestic disturbance did nothing wrong, an inquest has concluded.

Howard Glenn Fleury, 34, was pepper-sprayed three times and ignored repeated demands he drop a knife before police officers shot and killed him at his Alfred Avenue home on Dec. 3, 2005.

A 63-page inquest report released yesterday included no recommendations on how to avoid similar deaths in the future.

"Mr. Fleury refused to comply with officers' repeated demands to drop the knife," wrote Judge Catherine Carlson. "Had he complied he would be alive today."

Constables Robert Stockham and Matthew Barkley simultaneously shot Fleury inside his home. At an inquest last June, the officers testified Fleury was violent and high on cocaine, challenged them to shoot him and talked about "suicide by cop."

The officers were responding to a domestic call requested by Fleury's former common-law wife Kim Desjarlais, who told police Fleury was breaching a no-contact order and she was afraid for her children's safety.

The officers told the inquest they pepper-sprayed Fleury three times in the face, to no effect. As Fleury came down stairs towards the officers they repeatedly demanded Fleury drop the knife. Fleury challenged the officers to shoot him.

"I felt that my life and my partner's life were in danger. He just kept coming so I discharged my firearm," Stockham told the inquest.

At the time of Fleury's death, city police had not yet been issued Tasers. The officers had batons but testified they would have been ineffective in such close quarters.

dean.pritchard@sunmedia.ca