WINNIPEG — Disturbing allegations about the sexual assault and murder of a Winnipeg grandmother have emerged.
Crown prosecutors say Elizabeth Lafantaisie, 73, was sexually assaulted and strangled by a random attacker.
Thomas Brine, 29, has been charged with first degree murder in her death.
On day one of Brine’s trial at the law courts, crown prosecutor Nancy Fazenda said in her opening statement, she intends to call an expert who will describe Lafantaisie’s injuries and “…how they point to her being strangled manually and with a ligature. As well as how they point to her being sexually assaulted at the time of the killing.”
Lafantaisie was murdered in February, 2011.
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She was reported missing by her family after she was seen for the last time cleaning a home in Royalwood.
Police eventually found her vehicle with her body in the trunk.
Fazenda claimed they have DNA evidence linking Brine to Lafantaisie’s sexual assault and killing.
She also said they have photographic evidence that will show Brine “…took Elizabeth Lafantaisie’s car and washed it in an effort to eliminate evidence pointing to him on the same day she was killed.
If convicted, Brine would face a mandatory life sentence with no chance of parole for 25 years.
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