The jury trial is being held at the Don Ross Centre in North Battleford. (Angela Brown/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Angela Brown

RCMP investigation

Trial continues for accused in Thunderchild First Nation murder case

Feb 9, 2022 | 3:07 PM

The Court of Queen’s Bench jury trial continued Wednesday for the man facing a murder charge related to a Thunderchild First Nation homicide in 2018.

Ivor Antoine Wapass, 47, is charged with second-degree murder in the death of Roger Standingwater, 57, in September 2018. Wapass was arrested Nov. 1, 2019.

Wapass pleaded not guilty to the charge when he previously appeared in court on Jan. 4, 2022.

The Crown prosecutor cross-examined the defence witness, Colin Hoare, an expert in bloodstain pattern analysis, during Wednesday’s proceedings.

The Crown is alleging that Standingwater died from having his face stomped on.

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Hoare analyzed an exhibit of a photograph of a blood transfer stain of a footprint of a shoe from the scene. He said there was minimal detail in the particular transfer stain.

He noted that the striation pattern in the transfer stain “could be common to any number of shoes.”

Hoare also could not say whether the bloodstain came from being in the vicinity of the deceased who was bleeding, lying on the floor of the apartment at the time of the incident, or from being in contact with the source of the injury.

He said he couldn’t conclude the foot in question came in contact with Standingwater’s face.

The trial will continue Thursday with closing arguments from Crown prosecutor Suzanne Reid and Defence attorney Jonathan Bodvarson.

The trial proceedings are being held off-site at the Don Ross Centre gymnasium in North Battleford for the three-week duration to accommodate COVID-19 restrictions and social distancing for the 12-member jury.

Roger Standingwater was found in medical distress at a home on the Thunderchild First Nation on Sept. 15, 2018 and later pronounced deceased.

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Angela.Brown@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @battlefordsnow