‘Appropriate, necessary:' court to hold special hearing for family of serial killer's victim
Ashlee Shingoose, whose remains are believed to be in the Brady Road landfill, was known only as Mashkode Bizhiki'ikwe, or Buffalo Woman, for more than two years until she was confirmed to be one of the victims.
'The court has agreed that holding a hearing to receive and validate the victim and community impact statements relating to a now identified victim in a concluded first-degree murder case is both appropriate and necessary in these exceptional circumstances,' a Manitoba Court of King's Bench news release said Thursday.
Mashkode Bizhiki'ikwe, or Buffalo Woman, was identified as Ashlee Christine Shingoose by Winnipeg police in March this year. (Mike Deal / Free Press files)
The court agreed to hold the Aug. 15 hearing following a request by the Crown. Chief Justice Glenn Joyal will preside over the hearing.
The news release said the hearing is an attempt to provide Shingoose's family the same opportunity that was given to the families of serial killer Jeremy Skibicki's other victims — 'an opportunity to acknowledge the dignity of the victim and make real the suffering of, and impact on, the victim's family.'
Shingoose was one of four First Nations women slain by Skibicki between March and May of 2022. Shingoose, who was from St. Theresa Point First Nation and living in Winnipeg, was 30 when she disappeared.
Skibicki, who was arrested in May 2022, was convicted of first-degree murder in the deaths of Rebecca Contois, Morgan Harris, Marcedes Myran and the then-unidentified victim.
He was sentenced in August 2024 to four concurrent life sentences with no chance of parole for 25 years.
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Winnipeg police announced in March that Shingoose was Mashkode Bizhiki'ikwe. The breakthrough was based on a post-conviction interview with Skibicki and testing of DNA found on a pair of pants she had worn.
The court was told Skibicki will not attend next week's special hearing, but his lawyer will be there, the news release said.
Ashlee Christine Shingoose (Facebook)
It said there is no jurisdiction for the court to order or insist that Skibicki or his lawyer be present at the hearing.
'The court has had to reflect on both the legal parameters and institutional duties and opportunities that this situation presents for the purpose of providing a fair process that both enhances public confidence and promotes institutional reconciliation,' the news release said.
chris.kitching@freepress.mb.ca
Chris KitchingReporter
Chris Kitching is a general assignment reporter at the Free Press. He began his newspaper career in 2001, with stops in Winnipeg, Toronto and London, England, along the way. After returning to Winnipeg, he joined the Free Press in 2021, and now covers a little bit of everything for the newspaper. Read more about Chris.
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