Wendy Bird's body was found near Maymont in October of 2022. (Beau Lac Funeral Home)

By Angela Brown

RCMP investigation

Not guilty verdict in Wendy Bird murder case

Nov 2, 2023 | 4:56 PM

The trial wrapped up Thursday at the Court of King’s Bench in Battleford for one of four accused individuals charged in the death of Wendy Bird last year.

Lane Wuttunee, 27, from North Battleford, was facing charges of accessory after the fact and interfering with human remains.

Prosecutor Cory Bliss, represented the Crown, with Adam Fritzler acting for the defence, and Justice R. Mills presiding in the judge-alone trial.

At end end of the four-day trial, Justice Mills found Wuttunee not guilty of both charges.

battlefordsNOW is not providing the details in the case until all the accused have gone through the court process.

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Following court, one of Bird’s family members, who didn’t want to be identified, said only: “I’m not happy with today’s decision.”

Three other individuals are still facing charges in the matter.

A trial is set for January 2025 at the Court of King’s Bench for Dustin Cookman-Watts, 25, from North Battleford, who is facing a charge of first degree murder, in the case.

Melissa Kaponyas, 18, from Biggar, and Cassidy Kiskotagan, 19, from North Battleford, are both facing a charge of accessory after the fact. Their cases have been committed to trial at the Court of King’s Bench, with the dates still to be set.

On the morning of Oct. 16, 2022, 24-year-old Wendy Bird, from Prince Albert, was found deceased along Highway 16 near the village of Maymont. Her death was being treated as suspicious.

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angela.brown@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @battlefordsNOW