Man accused of killing four women, disposing of bodies, pleads not guilty in Winnipeg
A man accused of killing four women, two of whose remains are believed to be in a Winnipeg-area landfill, maintained his innocence on the first day of a pretrial hearing.
Jeremy Skibicki appeared in court Monday and pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder in the deaths of First Nations women Rebecca Contois, Morgan Harris, Marcedes Myran and an unidentified woman who Indigenous leaders have named Mashkode Bizhiki'ikwe or Buffalo Woman.
Family members and supporters, many wearing shirts displaying images of Contois, Harris and Myran, filled the large courtroom. Some gasped as Skibicki entered his pleas.
First Nations ceremonies were recognized by the court before the start of the hearing. The courtroom was smudged and blessed with prayer and song.
Four large cloths -- black, red, yellow and white -- were hung on the walls of the courtroom to represent the four directions. A buffalo headdress was also placed on a table with an eagle feather fan.
A red, ribbon dress was laid out on a chair to represent Buffalo Woman.
Aimee Fortier, a spokesperson for Manitoba Courts, said in an email that the courts will always ensure that it is neutral regarding religion and spirituality, but there are attempts being made to address issues of reconciliation and trust with Indigenous communities.
"The accommodations and gestures identified by the Crown, and agreed to by all counsel, represent an approach by which neutrality can be preserved and, at the same time, Indigenous knowledge, practice and tradition can be incorporated," Fortier said.
Police have said they believe the four women were killed over two months in the spring of 2022, although only the body of Contois has been found.
Her partial remains were discovered last year in a garbage bin in the city and in the Brady Road landfill.
Police believe the remains of Harris and Myran are in the Prairie Green Landfill north of Winnipeg. Their families have spent nearly a year calling for a search of the landfill after police declined to search the area, citing safety concerns.
A trial for Skibicki has been scheduled to start at the end of April.
His lawyers argued Monday that he should have a judge-alone trial.
"An accused should have an unfettered right to elect the mode of trial that they want," Leonard Tailleur told reporters Monday outside court.
Tailleur also took issue with the Crown issuing a direct indictment in the case, forgoing a preliminary hearing.
"The next thing they want also is determining the mode of trial ... at some point, you're going to say stop to this," he said.
The Crown is contesting the defence's motion to have a judge-alone trial.
There is "very high public interest to have a trial by judge and jury" in this case, said Charles Murray, a lawyer with Manitoba Justice's constitutional law branch.
Court of King's Bench Chief Justice Glenn Joyal reserved his decision for a later date. The rest of the two-week hearing is under a publication ban.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 6, 2023.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Calgary Skyview MP George Chahal joins growing chorus of Liberals calling for Trudeau to step down
Calgary Liberal MP George Chahal has publicly released letters he sent to the Liberal caucus and president of the Liberal Party of Canada, calling on them to begin the process of moving on from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
DEVELOPING Delta, B.C., port terminals closed after 'machinery fire' Saturday morning
A large fire at the port in Delta, B.C., sent a plume of smoke into the sky Saturday morning.
Magnus Carlsen quits World Rapid and Blitz Championships after refusing to change out of jeans
World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen quit the World Rapid Chess Championship on Friday after he refused to change out of the jeans he was wearing, according to the International Chess Federation (FIDE).
Friend of Quebec man killed in Florida boat explosion says his sister also injured
A childhood friend of the Quebec man killed in a Florida boat explosion earlier this week says one of the victim's sisters was among the other six passengers injured in the blast.
What is known about a plane crash in Kazakhstan after Putin apologized for a 'tragic incident'?
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday apologized to his Azerbaijani counterpart for what he called a 'tragic incident' following the crash of an Azerbaijani airliner in Kazakhstan that killed 38 people, but stopped short of acknowledging that Moscow was responsible.
Trudeau, Carney push back over Trump's ongoing 51st state comments
Two senior members of the federal cabinet were in Florida Friday pushing Canada's new $1.3 billion border plan with members of Donald Trump's transition team, a day after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau himself appeared to finally push back at the president-elect over his social media posts about turning Canada into the 51st state.
G2 driver stopped going more than 100 km/h over the speed limit on Hwy. 401 in eastern Ontario
A 17-year-old driver is facing charges after being caught speeding and driving dangerously on Highway 401 in eastern Ontario Friday evening, according to the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP).
How some men are trying to fight online misogyny amid 'your body, my choice' rhetoric
A young man with a buzz cut leans on a pristine countertop in a stark white kitchen and looks directly into the camera as he delivers what he presents as the secret to dating success for straight men.
Physical therapy is 'the best-kept secret in health care'
If you think physical therapy is only about rehabilitation after surgery or recovering from an accident, think again. For the vast majority, seeing a physical therapist should be about prevention, routine assessment and staying well.