EDMONTON – Two of the men charged in the 2011 murder of Chelsea Yellowbird pleaded guilty to lesser charges in a Wetaskiwin court Tuesday.
Wacey Applegarth pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder and guilty to a lesser charge of second-degree murder. Randall Omeasoo also pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder, instead pleading guilty to manslaughter.
A third man, Shelby Minde, is scheduled to appear in court November 13.
Chelsea Yellowbird was shot to death on the Samson Cree Nation in September 2011. The case was cold for two years before a number of tips helped Maskawacis RCMP break the case open.
In September 2013, the Major Crime Unit photographed the scene from an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle. The photos were used to build a 3D drawing of the crime scene. The RCMP Dive Team and the Special Tactical Operations Team also conducted a search in water near the Battle River Bridge.
Two months later, the RCMP arrested and charged the three men.
Madam Justice J.H. Goss will wait for a Gladue Report to be completed before sentencing. The report focuses on an aboriginal offender’s history and upbringing and will be presented to the court before sentencing occurs.
READ MORE: How is a Gladue report used in criminal sentencing of aboriginals
Sentencing will take place on Friday, Oct. 30, 2015.
Comments