(File photo/paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Crime

Guilty pleas entered in Montreal Lake shooting incident

Nov 26, 2019 | 5:00 PM

More than a year after a young woman from Montreal Lake Cree Nation was found in a vehicle suffering from a gunshot wound, the court case surrounding the incident continues to unravel with more questions than answers.

On Nov. 17, 2018, RCMP responded to a shooting a Montreal Lake, and later were involved in a short pursuit on highway 2 north. Trina Bird, 25, was the woman found in the vehicle, and died at the scene, despite the best efforts by RCMP to try and resuscitate her.

Earlier that morning, the suspect car was seen leaving Montreal Lake after shots were fired at a residence. A 16-year-old boy sustained a gunshot wound and was taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

One of the men charged in connection to the case, entered guilty pleas Tuesday morning at Prince Albert Court of Queen’s Bench to various firearms related charges as well as aggravated assault with a firearm. A sentencing hearing for Brandon Lee Corrigal is scheduled for Feb. 11.

Corrigal’s lawyer Peter Abrametz Jr. confirmed the guilty pleas for paNOW and explained his client wanted to put the case behind him and move on with his life.

Final numbers

Local RM results finalized

14h ago

Commitment

Hildebrand commits to Bemidji State in NCAA DI, first NCAA commitment in Raiders history

16h ago

Inflation

Rent inflation to slow in the next few years, Desjardins predicts

17h ago

Trina Bird. (Facebook)

Co-accused Wesley Eugene Lachance is scheduled to make his next court appearance Dec. 17, on charges including aggravated assault, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, and possession of a prohibited weapon.

Both Corrigal and Lachance were initially charged with attempted murder. Crown Prosecutor Cynthia Alexander explained to paNOW a judge decided last June that the men will stand trial on some of the charges they faced.

RCMP confirmed Bird’s death remains under investigation.

“Although they were originally charged with attempted murder on the 16-year-old, what they were committed for trial on, after the evidence, was aggravated assault,” she explained.

With regards to the death of Trina Bird, Alexander said the evidence does not suggest any charges in connection to her death.

“That other half of the puzzle is still under investigation,” Alexander said.

The third man arrested was Jeremy Wade Charles who was charged with possession of a firearm while prohibited. The charge was stayed at a hearing last January at Prince Albert Provincial Court.

—

nigel.maxwell@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell