Prince Albert Provincial Court. (File photo/ paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Court proceedings

Preliminary hearing date set for Mistawasis murder

Apr 20, 2022 | 12:00 PM

Nearly a year-and-a-half after a man was found dead on the Mistawasis First Nation, the subsequent court case is showing signs of moving forward.

When the matter was discussed Wednesday morning at Prince Albert Provincial Court, a preliminary hearing date of Aug. 12 was set for Roy Lasas.

He was one of two people charged last January, in relation to the murder of Troy Watson on Nov. 17, 2020.

At the time of the incident, RCMP explained they had been called to a home on the First Nation to help EMS with an unconscious man. Watson was found outside where the paramedics pronounced him dead.

The purpose of the preliminary hearing is to hear the crown’s evidence, and see if there’s enough for the accused to face trial. If it’s deemed there is, the case will then be moved to Court of Queen’s Bench where a pre-trial hearing will first be held before the case gets tried by judge and jury.

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When the matter was discussed in court Wednesday, the Crown suggested three to five witnesses may be called. No pleas have been entered at this stage.

Both of the accused are from the First Nation. The second man, who cannot be named because he was a minor at the time of the incident, is scheduled to make his next court appearance on May 4.

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nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell