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Melfort murder suspect still in custody

Jun 17, 2015 | 6:41 AM

A woman who is charged with killing a 70-year-old member of the James Smith Cree Nation in Melfort remains in custody.

Candace Moostoos, 34, has been in jail since she turned herself in to police on May 18.

She faces a second-degree murder charge in the death of Alpheus Burns, who was found lifeless in his Melfort home just after midnight that day.

While an autopsy has been performed at Saskatoon City Hospital, the RCMP will not release details, saying that information will come out in the court process.

According to police, the two were known to each other.

James Smith Chief Justin Burns, who identified himself as Alpheus Burns’ nephew, spoke to paNOW soon after news broke of the death. He said his uncle was an active participant in cultural events within the community.

Moostoos is also charged with breach of a probation order from an unrelated incident.

She will stay in remand until her next court appearance in Melfort on Aug. 11.

panews@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @princealbertnow