Crown stays manslaughter charge against Winnipeg woman accused in stabbing death of 12-year-old boy
The Crown has stayed a manslaughter charge against a Winnipeg woman accused in the stabbing death of a 12-year-old boy.
In June, Winnipeg police arrested 19-year-old Shania Ann-Marie Pearl Pirrie and charged her with manslaughter in connection with the death of 12-year-old Sanchez Boulanger.
Police previously said the boy had been stabbed along Burrows Avenue on the evening of June 18, 2021. He was taken to hospital where he died from his injuries.
In Manitoba's Provincial Court on Tuesday, Crown attorney Ami Kotler said senior members of the Crown's office reviewed the results of the investigation, which included witness statements, digital images, and cell phone videos seized from those close to the incident.
"The evidence establishes among other things that the death occurred while the accused and her family were attempting to retreat and being pursued and while the accused was on the phone with 911," Kotler said.
"As you know the Criminal Code requires that the Crown prove beyond a reasonable doubt that an accused was not acting in self-defence or in the defence of a third party, and having reviewed the evidence we have determined that this burden cannot be met in this case."
He said there is “no reasonable likelihood of conviction” and the Crown is staying the proceedings against Pirrie.
"I would like to emphasize, Your Honour, that we are aware that these are very painful decisions and that Sanchez Boulanger’s family has suffered a loss that cannot be described and that no parent wants to imagine," Kotler told Judge Sandra Chapman on Tuesday.
"However our actions are guided by the law and in this case, the law requires that we not continue with the charge."
Pirrie's lawyer Kristen Jones told CTV News in a written statement that Pirrie maintained her innocence throughout the process and is relieved with the Crown's decision.
Joni Gabriel, Sanchez's mother, told CTV News she was shocked and angry when she was told on Monday the Crown would be staying the proceedings.
"The justice system needs to change," she said, adding she feels it failed her son.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Spring allergy season has begun. Where is it worse in Canada?
The spring allergy season has started early in many parts of Canada, with high levels of pollen in some cities already. Experts weigh in on which areas have it worse so far this season.
'Nonsense:' Doug Ford slams lawsuits filed by Ontario school boards against social media platforms
Premier Doug Ford says that lawsuits launched by four Ontario school boards against a trio of social media platforms are “nonsense” and risk becoming a distraction to the work that really matters.
Several flight attendants from Pakistan have gone missing after landing in Canada
Multiple flight attendants from Pakistan International Airlines have abandoned their jobs and are believed to have sought asylum in Canada in the past year and a half, a spokesperson for the government-owned airline says.
N.B. man wins $64 million from Lotto 6/49
A New Brunswicker will go to bed Thursday night much richer than he was Wednesday after collecting on a winning lottery ticket he let sit on his bedroom dresser for nearly a year.
Multiple bridges in Calgary shut down for police incident
Calgary police have shut down a number of bridges into and out of the downtown core as officers deal with a distraught individual.
King Charles calls for acts of friendship in first public remarks since Kate's cancer diagnosis
King Charles III gave public remarks for Maundy Thursday, addressing the importance of acts of friendship, following his and Catherine, Princess of Wales’ cancer diagnoses.
Fallen crypto mogul Sam Bankman-Fried sentenced to 25 years in prison
Crypto entrepreneur Sam Bankman-Fried was sentenced Thursday to 25 years in prison for a massive fraud that unravelled with the collapse of FTX, once one of the world's most popular platforms for exchanging digital currency.
A dog and a bird formed an unlikely friendship. Their separation has infuriated followers
Peggy is a stout and muscular Staffordshire bull terrier, and Molly is a magpie, an Australian bird best known for swooping on humans during breeding season, not for befriending dogs. But in an emotional video posted online, Peggy’s owners announced that the animals had been separated.
Tipping is off the table at this Toronto restaurant
A Toronto restaurant introduced a surprising new rule that reduced the cost of a meal and raised the salaries of staff.