There will not be an appeal in the case against Raymond Cormier.
Cormier, the man accused of killing 15-year old Tina Fontaine, was found not guilty of second degree murder last month after a jury spent more than 11 hours deliberating.
READ MORE: Raymond Cormier found not guilty in death of Tina Fontaine
A spokesperson for Manitoba Justice confirmed the decision Tuesday.
“When a jury finds the accused person not guilty, the Crown can only appeal errors on questions of law. After a critical review of the law by the Manitoba Prosecution Service’s appeal unit and the Crown attorneys who prosecuted the case, it has been determined there are no grounds to base a successful appeal of the Raymond Cormier verdict in the death of Tina Fontaine.”
Fontaine, who was in the care of Child and Family Services, ran away from a Winnipeg hotel where she was being housed in August 2014.
Just eight days later, the 15-year-old girl’s body was pulled from the Red River wrapped inside a duvet cover and weighted down with rocks.
Cormier was charged more than a year later after an extensive undercover police operation.
READ MORE: Government to release review of how CFS handled Tina Fontaine
The 11 person jury heard from nearly 50 witnesses throughout the trial. Cormier never took the stand and his defence team did not call any witnesses.
The Crown presented no physical or forensic evidence linking Cormier to the crime.
The province said Fontaine’s family had been notified of the decision.
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