Lawyers push to toss jury as Winnipeg trial begins for man accused of killing 4 women

Manitoba

The trial of a Winnipeg man accused of killing four women began this morning with a preliminary matter before the jury is called in next week.

Jeremy Skibicki has pleaded not guilty to 4 counts of 1st-degree murder

mugshot of bearded man
Jeremy Skibicki has pleaded not guilty to four counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of Rebecca Contois, Morgan Beatrice Harris, Marcedes Myran and an unidentified woman community members have named Mashkode Bizhiki’ikwe, or Buffalo Woman. (Jeremy Skibicki/Facebook)

The trial of a Winnipeg man accused of killing four women began this morning with a preliminary matter before the jury is called in next week.

Jeremy Skibicki has pleaded not guilty to four counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of Morgan Harris, Marcedes Myran, Rebecca Contois and a fourth unidentified woman community members named Mashkode Bizhiki’ikwe, or Buffalo Woman.

Skibicki’s lawyers are now arguing for a judge-alone trial.

The faces of three First Nations women are pictured side by side.
Left to right: Morgan Beatrice Harris, Marcedes Myran and Rebecca Contois. (Submitted by Cambria Harris, Donna Bartlett and Darryl Contois)

Jurors were chosen last week and are expected to sit on May 8, when opening arguments are to start.

The partial remains of Contois were found in a garbage bin and at a city-run landfill in the spring of 2022.

Police have said they believe the remains of Harris and Myran are at a different, privately-owned landfill outside the city, and the location of Buffalo Woman’s remains are unknown.

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