NORTH BATTLEFORD – A preliminary hearing started Monday in North Battleford Provincial Court for a Saulteaux First Nation woman charged with first-degree murder.
Saskatoon lawyer Nicholas Stooshinoff represents 32-year-old Jannay Blackbird who was arrested by RCMP in April 2021 following an 11-month investigation into the death of 20-year-old Damian Moosomin whose body was found in the 1500 block of 105 Street in North Battleford in May 2020.
On Tuesday, North Battleford Senior Crown Prosecutor Jennifer Schmidt asked the court to order a ban on publication of the details of the preliminary hearing. Judge Kevin Hill issued the ban.
Blackbird appeared in court in person for the hearing. She was released on bail after a bail hearing at Battleford Court of Queen's Bench on Dec. 23, 2021.
Blackbird was originally charged with second-degree murder and in May 2021 the charges were upgraded to first-degree murder.
Others charged in connection to Moosomin’s death include Stormy Wapass-Semaganis from Edmonton, Tye Partridge, 23, from Moosomin First Nation, Denver Roy, 36, from Sweetgrass First Nation, Melissa Semaganis, 41, from Poundmaker First Nation, and a young offender who can’t be identified in accordance with the Youth Criminal Justice Act.
Partridge, Blackbird, Wapass-Semaganis, and Semaganis are all charged with first-degree murder. Roy is charged with second-degree murder. The young offender is charged with accessory after the fact to murder.
The charges against the accused haven’t been proven in court.
