Murder charge in 2020 Eabametoong First Nation death withdrawn
CBC News | Posted: March 26, 2021 10:30 AM | Last Updated: July 21, 2021
Youth was facing charges of second-degree murder, aggravated assault
A charge of second-degree murder against a youth, stemming from an incident in Eabametoong First Nation last year, has been withdrawn.
The youth — who can't be named under the Youth Criminal Justice Act — was charged in July 2020, over the death of Arlene Wapoose.
In addition to the count of second-degree murder, the youth was facing two counts of aggravated assault, and possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose.
However, during a court proceeding on March 15, those charges were withdrawn, with consent of the Crown. Instead, the youth pleaded guilty to one count of assault with a weapon, and received 12 months' probation.
According to an agreed statement of facts read into the record, the incident occurred in the early morning hours of July 8, 2020, at a residence in Eabametoong.
In the agreed to statement of facts, Wapoose and others had been drinking, the victim became increasingly aggressive toward others in the home, and was carrying a kitchen knife, prior to the altercation between the youth and Wapoose.
- A previous version of the story included agreed to statement of facts from court documents that were not necessary. July 21, 2021 2:51 PM