Judge to give verdict in trial of man who admitted to killing four women in Winnipeg

A judge is scheduled to springiness his determination Thursday successful nan first-degree execution proceedings of a man who admitted to sidesplitting 4 women successful Winnipeg.

Lawyers for Jeremy Skibicki reason he should beryllium recovered not criminally responsible and opportunity he was suffering from schizophrenia astatine nan clip of nan slayings successful 2022.

But Crown prosecutors opportunity he had nan intelligence capacity and consciousness to perpetrate and screen up nan killings.

They person characterized nan killings arsenic racially motivated and opportunity nan 37-year-old targeted nan Indigenous women astatine bum shelters.

The lawsuit sparked calls for governments and organizations to reside nan ongoing rumor of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls.

A first-degree execution verdict would transportation an automatic life condemnation pinch nary chance of parole for 25 years, while a uncovering of not criminally responsible intends Skibicki would beryllium detained successful a infirmary until a reappraisal committee determines he is nary longer a threat to nan public.

The weeks-long proceedings heard from 2 forensic psychiatrists who presented opposing motivations for nan slayings of nan 4 women: Morgan Harris, 39; Marcedes Myran, 26; Rebecca Contois, 24; and an unidentified female an Indigenous grassroots organization has named Mashkode Bizhiki’ikwe, aliases Buffalo Woman.

Contois was from O-Chi-Chak-Ko-Sipi First Nation, and Harris and Myran were from Long Plain First Nation. All 3 were surviving successful Winnipeg erstwhile they were killed.

The only grounds constabulary person pointing to nan personality of Buffalo Woman is DNA recovered connected nan cuff of a woman’s jacket.

Dr. Sohom Das, who testified for nan defence, said Skibicki felt compelled to termination nan women because he was connected a ngo from God and heard auditory hallucinations coaxing him to kill.

Das said Skibicki knew astatine nan clip nan killings were legally incorrect but lacked nan capacity to cognize they were morally wrong.

Court heard Skibicki has a history of intelligence illness, including depression, borderline characteristic upset and thoughts of suicide. But he was not antecedently diagnosed pinch schizophrenia.

Dr. Gary Chaimowitz, a Crown-appointed expert, testified Skibicki apt has anti-social and constituent maltreatment disorders but did not person an progressive awesome intelligence wellness upset astatine nan clip of nan slayings.

Chaimowitz said he believes Skibicki was driven to termination because of his intersexual liking successful nan dead.

The killings came to ray successful May 2022, erstwhile a man looking for scrap metallic recovered nan partial remains of Contois successful a dumpster successful Skibicki’s neighbourhood. More of her remains were discovered astatine a city-run landfill nan pursuing month.

During a constabulary interrogation, Skibicki admitted to sidesplitting Contois and nan 3 different women. He said nan killings were racially motivated and cited achromatic supremacist beliefs.

Court heard he assaulted nan women, strangled aliases drowned them and committed activity acts connected their bodies earlier disposing of them successful garbage bins.

Buffalo Woman was killed successful March of that year. Harris and Myran were killed successful May.

The Crown said it doesn’t judge location are further victims.

In 2022, constabulary said they believed nan remains of Harris and Myran were taken to different landfill extracurricular nan metropolis but a hunt of that tract would beryllium excessively analyzable and dangerous.

There were countrywide protests demanding a hunt of nan Prairie Green landfill. The national and Manitoba governments precocious committed a mixed $40 cardinal for a search, which is expected to commencement successful nan fall.

The national authorities has a support statement for those affected by nan rumor of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls: 1-844-413-6649. The Hope for Wellness Helpline, pinch support successful Cree, Ojibway and Inuktitut, is besides disposable to each Indigenous group successful Canada: 1-855-242-3310.