
In Calgary courts: Preliminary inquiry underway for woman charged with murder in Stoney Nakoda First Nation death
Evidence is expected to conclude Tuesday in the preliminary inquiry of a Stoney Nakoda First Nation woman charged with murder.
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Cynthia Dixon's scheduled four-day hearing got underway Monday in Calgary Court of Justice, but Crown lawyer Ron Simenik said he and co-prosecutor Idayat Balogun will likely only need half that time.
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Simenik and Balogun are expected to call six witnesses over the course of the preliminary hearing before Justice Paul Mason.
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At defence counsel Kim Ross's request, Mason ordered a publication ban on the evidence presented by the prosecutors.
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Dixon, 49, is charged with second-degree murder in connection with the Sept. 8, 2023, death of Donald Nepoose.
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Nepoose, 55, was found dead in a residence on the first nation after Stoney Nakoda RCMP responded to a call for a disturbance at a home in the area.
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They found Nepoose dead on scene and an autopsy later confirmed he was the victim of a homicide. His cause of death has not been made public.
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After a months-long investigation police charged Dixon with second-degree murder in early March 2024.
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Dixon, who is also a Stoney Nakoda resident, is free on bail pending an outcome to the case.
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Among the conditions of her March 11, 2024, release order is that she is prohibited from possessing any weapons and a $5,000 promise to pay if she violates bail.
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Toronto Sun
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Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Instead, Ontario Court Justice Martin Lambert ruled that Stephen Malabre-Patrick of Ajax will need to finish his sentence for drug trafficking in jail. Malabre-Patrick's lawyer argued his client should be given time-served credit because of poor conditions at Sudbury Jail, such as overcrowding and lockdowns, and be released now. Now 33, Malabre-Patrick pleaded guilty to cocaine possession for the purpose of trafficking and conspiracy to traffic controlled substances. He was one of six southern Ontario people police officers busted in 2023 for drug trafficking in Sudbury. 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CBC
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Vancouver Sun
a day ago
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Prolific B.C. drunk driver could face deportation after dozens of driving bans over 30 years
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'To accede to Mr. Bajwa's request for a (conditional sentence) or a reduction of the jail time on either count for the impact of the collateral immigration consequences to Mr. Bajwa and as a remedy (for breaching his Charter right to be free from unreasonable search and seizure), would bring the administration of justice into disrepute and result in an inappropriate and artificial sentence; in other words, an unfit sentence,' Judge David Patterson of B.C.'s provincial court wrote in a recent decision. Bajwa immigrated to Canada from India's Punjab region over 34 years ago. 'He received his first British Columbia driving prohibition on March 19, 1993,' said the judge. 'He has also accumulated a substantial number of additional Criminal Code convictions and Motor Vehicle Act infractions.' 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After he was caught driving drunk in 2022, Bajwa 'began the process of getting his life together,' said the decision. 'He gave up drinking alcohol and took a few counselling sessions. He now lives with a close friend … and he is an active participant in the Vernon Sikh community.' Bajwa's 'moral blameworthiness is at the highest end of the spectrum,' said the judge. Patterson said he had 'considered the potential impact of a jail sentence of six months or more on him, including the possibility that he may be removed from Canada, his home for more than 34 years.' Bajwa got a letter from the Canada Border Services Agency in February of 2024 'alleging he may be inadmissible to Canada' for serious criminality. 'Removal from Canada would lead to dire consequences for Mr. Bajwa,' said the judge. 'He would be forced to leave the country he has called home for more than 34 years. He would face the prospect of returning to India, which has changed since he last resided there. A country that now may be as foreign to him as Canada was when Mr. Bajwa immigrated to Canada.' After considering the Charter breach, Patterson sentenced Bajwa to 198 days (just over six months) in jail for the impaired driving conviction, fined him $2,000 and banned him from driving for three years. For driving while prohibited, the judge handed Bajwa another 120 days behind bars (about four months) to be served consecutively, for a total of about 10 months in jail. Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here .