THUNDER BAY — A preliminary hearing is underway for two of three accused in the 2022 death of 21-year-old Ivan Achneepineskum.
Draydin Bluecoat, 21, of Webequie First Nation and 20-year-old Jayven Spence of Kasabonika First Nation appeared before Justice Frank Valente on Monday for the opening of the preliminary hearing on charges of second-degree murder.
A preliminary hearing is part of the judicial process to determine if there is enough evidence to proceed to trial.
The Crown expects to call between 12 and 15 witnesses to testify and the hearing is scheduled for two weeks.
A third accused, 19-year-old Taliyah Wabasse of Webequie First Nation, was also charged with second-degree murder and a preliminary hearing for her is scheduled for June.
The charges date back to Dec. 24, 2022, when officers with the Thunder Bay Police Service were dispatched to several locations to help locate Achneepineskum, who had not been heard from by his family.
Achneepineskum of Marten Falls had been living in Thunder Bay at the time with his family.
Police located Achneepineskum deceased at a Kingsway motel. Police determined Achneepineskum’s death was a homicide but were unable to determine if he died on Dec. 24, 2022 or earlier.
Following an investigation, police arrested Wabasse on Jan. 3, 2023, at the Thunder Bay International Airport while attempting to board a plane back to her home community.
Bluecoat and Spence were arrested in their home communities the next day with the assistance of Nishnawbe Aski Police Service. All three were charged with second-degree murder.
There is a publication ban on all evidence presented at the preliminary hearing.
