Wesaquate manslaughter trial begins

REGINA –Nine women and three men have been chosen to sit as jury members to hear testimony and evidence in a manslaughter case. Brianna Wesaquate is on trial after a street fight in October 2013 that led to the death of another woman.

Monday afternoon, the prosecution called members of the Regina Police Service to the stand who told the jury they arrived at the 700 block of Athol St. before 3:00 am on October 31, 2013.

Officers found the victim, Kassaundra Desjarlais, soaked in blood, in the middle of the street.

“It didn’t look good, I knew immediately. There was a lot of blood,” Cst. Joshua Ethier told the court.

He also testified that Desjarlais was conscious after being stabbed, but not responsive and she was gurgling as first-aid was administered. She died one hour later in hospital.

Police arrested Brianna Wesaquate that night from a house at 715 Athol St. They seized her boots, which forensics proved had Desjarlais’ blood on them.

The court also learned Wesaquate “sobbed hysterically” when she learned of Desjarlais’s death.

Wesaquate was initially charged with 2nd degree murder. That was reduced to manslaughter during her preliminary trial.

The trial is expected to last two weeks.