Crown stays assault charges against aides accused of assaulting care home residents in Winnipeg
Manitoba Crown prosecutors have entered a stay of proceedings against two health-care aides accused of assaulting residents at a Winnipeg care home, as court heard there is no longer a reasonable likelihood of conviction.
Late last year, Winnipeg police charged Kumba Mansaray and Kadiatu Koroma with one count of assault each. The charges were in connection to an investigation into alleged abuse of elderly residents at Oakview Place care home in 2022.
At the time, police alleged between August 2021 and January 2022, the two health-care aides used, “'inappropriate physical actions on separate occasions to gain the compliance of five elderly residents while performing their daily care duties.”
The Winnipeg Regional Health Authority (WRHA) said a whistleblower came forward to the local management of the care home in February 2022 with the allegations. However, the WRHA said it was only informed about the allegations four months later when another whistleblower came forward.
READ MORE: Oakview Place abuse investigation: Two health-care aides facing assault charges
During a court hearing on May 30 recently reviewed by CTV News, the Crown entered a stay of proceedings against Mansaray and Koroma.
Crown Prosecutor M. Evans told the court police had initially requested five charges be authorized between each of the co-accused. However, she said after reviewing the materials, the Crown's office authorized the laying of only two charges.
She said when the Crown authorizes charges, it weighs whether there is a reasonable likelihood of conviction and if it is in the public interest to proceed. Evans said after receiving further information from police, the Crown decided to enter a stay of proceedings.
"After further review, it was determined that the matter no longer meets our charging standard as there is no longer a reasonable likelihood of conviction," Evans said.
Provincial Judge Dave Mann accepted the stay of proceedings on both counts.
Neither of the accused, nor their defence lawyer, were present at the hearing on May 30.
CTV News Winnipeg reached out to the Crown’s office about the decision, which provided a statement.
“Manitoba Prosecution Service can confirm the decision was made after a thorough consideration of all the evidence,” a provincial spokesperson said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A beautiful soul': Funeral held for baby boy killed in wrong-way crash on Highway 401
A funeral was held on Wednesday for a three-month-old boy who died after being involved in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 in Whitby last week.
'Sophisticated' cyberattacks detected on B.C. government networks, premier says
There has been a "sophisticated" cybersecurity breach detected on B.C. government networks, Premier David Eby confirmed Wednesday evening.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
Biden says he will stop sending bombs and artillery shells to Israel if they launch major invasion of Rafah
U.S. President Joe Biden said for the first time Wednesday he would halt shipments of American weapons to Israel, which he acknowledged have been used to kill civilians in Gaza, if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders a major invasion of the city of Rafah.
Canucks claw out 5-4 comeback win over Oilers in Game 1
Dakota Joshua had a goal and two assists and the Vancouver Canucks scored three third-period goals to claw out a 5-4 comeback victory over the Edmonton Oilers in Game 1 of their second-round playoff series Wednesday.
Nijjar murder suspect says he had Canadian study permit in immigration firm's video
One of the Indian nationals accused of murdering British Columbia Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar says in a social media video that he received a Canadian study permit with the help of an Indian immigration consultancy.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
Quebec premier defends new museum on Quebecois nation after Indigenous criticism
Quebec Premier Francois Legault is defending his comments about a new history museum after he was accused by a prominent First Nations group of trying to erase their history.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his brain more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.