By Chelsea Laskowski

Accused kidnapper, murderer makes 1st court appearance

Feb 23, 2015 | 9:48 AM

The families of victims from violence in Lac La Ronge First Nation that killed a teen boy had mixed reactions as they missed a chance to see the man accused of causing it.

Jonas Budd’s court appearance, facing charges that include murder and kidnapping, in La Ronge Provincial Court was bumped up by half an hour on Monday.

Court staff stated his appearance was moved up to 9 a.m. because of ‘security,’ at the request of the Crown prosecutor. However, the Crown did not comment further on that.

Budd’s arrest came late last week after Dustin Bird, 17, was found dead in a home on the First Nation early on Feb. 18.

His girlfriend, 17-year-old Kayla Natomagan’s, abduction led to an Amber Alert. 

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Natomagan was found safe in Manitoba by RCMP that day, but Budd had fled to the bush.

A confrontation between Budd and the RCMP in Sturgeon Landing ended after dark the following day.

Family supporters of Erica Hennie – Budd’s former partner and Natomagan’s mother – said many people were unhappy that they missed Budd’s appearance.

However, some members of Bird’s family seemed satisfied that Budd is staying in custody until his next court appearance on March 30, saying they had no desire to see him in court.

Bird’s family declined to comment on the record.

Over a dozen people came to court for Budd’s appearance.

-With files from Sarah Stone

claskowski@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @chelsealaskowsk