Photo: The Canadian Press

Matthew Ryan Hines

Two correctional officers have been charged in the death of an inmate at Dorchester Penitentiary in New Brunswick nearly three years ago.

Inmate Matthew Ryan Hines was pronounced dead at Moncton Hospital in May 2015 following an emergency medical transport from the prison.

After an investigation, New Brunswick RCMP deemed that foul play was not suspected.

However in May 2016 Canada's correctional investigator ruled the 33-year-old Cape Bretoner's death was preventable, and the repeated use of pepper spray at very close range appears to have contributed to Hines' rapid onset of medical complications.

The report said correctional staff used unnecessary physical and chemical force and failed to properly respond to the medical emergency.

On Wednesday, two men, 48-year-old Alvida Ross and 31-year-old Mathieu Bourgoin, both of Dieppe, N.B., were charged with one count each of manslaughter and criminal negligence causing death.

Both are scheduled to appear in Moncton provincial court on February 26.