The courtroom was full today as Riley Ballantyne made his first appearance.
The 21-year-old is charged with the first-degree murder of his grandmother, Jean Ballantyne, who was killed on Christmas Day in Pelican Narrows.
Riley did not say a word when Judge Tom Ferris addressed him.
He was dressed in a green t-shirt and blue jeans and nodded when Ferris asked him if he understood he needed to find a lawyer and if he wanted bail, and he would have to go through the Court of Queen’s Bench, not provincial court.
Dozens of family members who made the trek from Pelican Narrows stared at Riley the whole time he stood before the court.
After he was remanded, his family, many of whom were in tears, went outside to talk.
The victim’s son, William Ballantyne Jr., said on the night she was killed, he had told his mother to call the RCMP three times.
The last time he saw her was 1:30 in the morning on Christmas after coming home from church. The last thing he told her was he loved her.
“She was loving, caring so much to her grandchildren and stuff like that. She always helped out and everything like that,” he said.
“I am just crying inside, but at least my mom is in a better place right now. She is in heaven right now waiting for us.”
The victim’s husband, William Ballantyne Sr., said Riley was drinking the night Jean died.
He blamed his wife’s death on alcohol. He said it is a big problem in Pelican Narrows, and without it things would be better.
“When I am standing here today if it was not for the liquor it wouldn’t have happened… I lost my wife just for the liquor. I lost my wife. I thought I’d stay with her for a long time. I didn’t figure I’d ever talk like this in my life,” he said.
Riley will be back in provincial court on Jan. 11, giving him time to find a lawyer.
klavoie@panow.com
