(File photo/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Angela Brown

Homicide investigation

One of accused heading to trial in Moosomin case

May 9, 2022 | 1:16 PM

A Saulteaux First Nation individual is set to stand trial on a charge related to the death of Damian Moosomin in 2020.

Jannay Blackbird, 32, is facing a charge of first-degree murder in the case.

A preliminary hearing held in North Battleford provincial court in April determined there was sufficient evidence to proceed to trial, the date of which is still to be determined. She previously elected to be tried by judge and jury.

Blackbird is next scheduled for a private pre-trial conference at the Court of Queen’s Bench in Battleford on May 20.

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Two others are also still facing charges. Stormy Wapass-Semaganis, of Edmonton, is facing a charge of first-degree murder, now has a preliminary hearing set for June 13 in North Battleford provincial court. Tye Partridge, of Moosomin First Nation, facing a charge of first-degree murder, has a preliminary hearing tentatively set for May 16.

One of the suspects was previously sentenced in the case. Denver Roy of Sweetgrass First Nation received 10 months in custody and nine months probation on Oct. 29, 2021 after pleading guilty to the charge of offering an indignity to a dead body. An additional charge of accessory after the fact was withdrawn.

Melissa Semaganis and a male youth under the age of 18 at the time of the incident, who were both facing a charge of accessory after the fact to murder, saw a stay of proceedings in their cases on April 25, 2022.

There is a publication ban on the details of the case until after all the accused individuals have gone through the court process.

Damian Moosomin, 20, was found deceased in the backyard of a property in the 1500 block of 105th Street in North Battleford on May 16, 2020. He was originally reported missing to police on May 11 of that year.

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angela.brown@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @battlefordsNOW