Leslee Bearsears displays a sign calling for justice for her son, Lee Bearsears, whose death is the subject of an ongoing trial at the Court of King’s Bench in Battleford. (Image Credit: Kenneth Cheung/battlefordsNOW)

By Kenneth Cheung

CRIME

Witness says he heard gunshot while travelling with vitctim, accused in Bearsears murder trial

Mar 5, 2026 | 4:48 PM

A man who was in a truck with Lee Bearsears and the man accused of his murder told court Thursday he heard a gunshot while the three were travelling together.

Preston Checkosis testified in the Court of King’s Bench in Battleford during Craig Fox’s trial on a charge of second-degree murder.

Bearsears’ body was found Oct. 16, 2023, in a rural area on Poundmaker Cree Nation, about 60 kilometres west of North Battleford. RCMP said at the time the death was considered suspicious.

Checkosis said he was driving when he heard the gunshot and Fox told him to stop the vehicle.

He testified he did not see the firearm being discharged but said Fox was the only person he saw with a gun that day. 

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When asked whether anyone else handled the firearm, Checkosis replied, “No.”

Checkosis told the court he was frightened following the gunshot.

“I was terrified,” he said while explaining why he was initially reluctant to speak with police.

Court heard Checkosis was later charged in relation to the case and received an 18-month sentence. 

Earlier Thursday, another witness described the group’s movements before the incident.

Kendra Frank testified she spent the weekend with Bearsears and others drinking and using drugs while travelling through several communities, including North Battleford, Lloydminster and Cold Lake.

Frank said Bearsears, Fox and Checkosis later left her home together in Bearsears’ truck.

“I knew they all left together because there was nobody at my house,” she told the court.

Frank testified she did not see anyone with a firearm that day and said she learned of Bearsears’ death a few days later when his mother told her.

As of now, court has heard no evidence establishing who fired the gun that killed Lee Bearsears.

A forensic DNA expert testified earlier in the trial that genetic evidence alone cannot determine who last handled the firearm connected to the investigation.

Kenneth Hunter, a scientist at an RCMP forensic laboratory in Edmonton, Alta., told the court that DNA analysis can show whose biological material may be present on an item.

“I can’t determine how DNA got there or when it got there,” Hunter told the court.

Hunter testified that while scientists can generate DNA profiles from biological material found on an exhibit, the presence of DNA does not establish who last handled the object or how it was transferred.

The jury trial began March 2 in Battleford and is expected to run 15 days, until March 20.

—

Kenneth.Cheung@pattisonmedia.com