NORTH BATTLEFORD – A 24-year-old Edmonton woman will stand trial for manslaughter in the death of 20-year-old Damian Moosomin in North Battleford.
Crown Prosecutor Jennifer Schmidt and defence Brent Little reached an agreement Monday for Stormy Wapass-Semaganis to be committed for trial at Battleford Court of King’s Bench on a reduced charge of manslaughter following a preliminary hearing. Judge Michelle Baldwin ordered a ban on the publication of details of what was said during the hearing.
Wapass-Semaganis was arrested in April 2021 and charged with first-degree murder in Moosomin’s death.
Tye Partridge, 23, from Moosomin First Nation, was charged with first-degree murder but pleaded guilty in May to the reduced charge of manslaughter and was sentenced to 15 years in prison.
In May, Jannay Blackbird, 33, from Saulteaux First Nation, was committed to stand trial in Battleford Court of King’s Bench on a charge of first-degree murder following a preliminary hearing. A trial date will be set.
In October 2021, Denver Roy, 36, from Sweetgrass First Nation, was sentenced to 300 days in jail on a charge of improperly interfering with human remains. He was initially charged with second-degree murder.
Charges of accessory after the fact to murder were stayed against Melissa Semaganis, 41, from Poundmaker First Nation and a young offender who can’t be identified in accordance with the Youth Criminal Justice Act.
Moosomin’s body was found in the backyard of a home in the 1500 block of 105 Street in North Battleford in May 2020. He was reported missing to police May 11, 2020.
Following an 11-month investigation police arrested six people in connection to Moosomin’s murder.
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