By Ryan Pilon

Police confirm identity of car fire body

May 27, 2011 | 6:33 AM

The Prince Albert Police Service has officially identified the victim of last weekend’s car fire as 13-year-old Wayne Ballantyne.

The fire occurred in the 900 block of River Street West on May 21 at about 1 a.m.

Bill Cooke, the director of education with the Saskatchewan Rivers School Division, said that Ballantyne was a Grade 8 student at the Riverside Community School in Prince Albert.

He said a Tragic Events Team will be attending the school to provide professional advice and counseling to students and staff who need guidance.

“Each individual handles this kind of grief in his or her own way, and there will be some of our students and staff who would like to speak with our Tragic Events Team and there are others who will handle this in their own private way,” said Cooke.

Court proceedings

Drugs and weapons bust in Stanley Mission, results in two year sentence

16h ago

health care

La Loche recipient of new portable blood analyzer, printer kit

17h ago

Crime

Dangerous driving report at Red Wing, leads to arrest of man with gun

20h ago

Wayne’s parents, Fanny and Jonas Ballantyne, said they heard from people in the community that their son was beaten up by older teens.

However, the Prince Albert Police Service has issued a statement saying evidence does not substantiate that Wayne was assaulted.

A source close to paNOW.com has told us that they were informed by the Prince Albert Police Service that there was no evidence of trauma to Wayne’s body.

See related: Family waits for answers

rpilon@panow.com