(file photo/battlefordsNOW staff)

By battlefordsNOW Staff

RCMP investigation

Wapass trial interrupted due to COVID-19 concern

Jan 17, 2022 | 3:55 PM

The trial for Ivor Antoine Wapass took an unexpected break Monday as a COVID-19 precaution.

Wapass, 47, is charged with second-degree murder in the death of Roger Standingwater, 57, on Sept. 15, 2018. Wapass was arrested Nov. 1, 2019. He pleaded not guilty to the charge when he appeared in court Jan. 4, 2022.

The trial continued the week of Jan. 10 and was set to resume Jan. 17 with the defence to call evidence. But the court heard one of the court participants was feeling ill.

In response to the unconfirmed COVID-19 concern, Justice A.R. Rothery decided it was in the court’s best interest for the health and safety of the jury to adjourn the trial to allow time for the individual to recover as a precaution.

“The integrity of the whole jury system within our province basically rests in our collective hands today,” she said. “So we have to make the correct decision with respect to how we proceed.”

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As a result, the jury trial will continue the week of Tuesday, Feb. 8.

The Court of Queen’s Bench trial is being held at the off-site location at the Don Ross Centre in North Battleford to accommodate COVID-19 restrictions.

According to the initial police report, Turtleford RCMP responded after receiving a report of an unresponsive male at a home on the Thunderchild First Nation on Sept. 15, 2018. When police arrived at the location, the victim Roger Standingwater, was found in medical distress. EMS personnel arrived shortly afterwards and pronounced Standingwater deceased.

The allegations have not been proven in court.

—

Angela.Brown@pattisonmedia.com

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