REGINA –
A suspect in the death of an RCMP officer in Saskatchewan is facing first-degree murder charges after previous manslaughter charges were dropped, according to the RCMP.
Hooray. Shelby Patton, who worked on the Indian Head detachment, was killed on June 12 after he stopped two suspects allegedly driving a stolen truck in the town of Wolseley, Sask. Patton, 26, was hit by a car and later died at the scene.
Alphonse Stanley Traverse, 42, and Marlene Velma Louise Pagee, 43, both from Winnipeg, were initially charged with manslaughter, failure to stop after a fatal crash, motor vehicle theft, possession stolen property over $5,000 and breach of commitment for leaving Manitoba.
On Friday, the Saskatchewan RCMP said both manslaughter charges had been withdrawn. Traverse is currently charged with first-degree murder, while Pagee is charged with a secondary charge after the fact of murder. All other fees remain before the court.
“As of June 12, investigators from Saskatchewan’s Main Crime Unit RCMP North remained committed to the investigation into the death of Cst. Shelby Patton. This includes conducting additional witness interviews and completing forensic examinations,” Assistant Commissioner Rhonda Blackmore, commanding officer of the Saskatchewan RCMP, said in a statement.
Traverse appeared by video in provincial court on Friday morning. He is expected to return to court on December 20 at 9:30 a.m. when he will be speaking to the judge.
Pagee appeared via video from the Pine Grove Correction Center Friday afternoon. Since the manslaughter charge against Pagee has been dropped, the attorney representing her is asking the judge to report the bail verification.
According to the Elizabeth Fry Association, the bail verification process includes the collection of interviews that will be shared with the court to help determine whether the defendant should be released from custody. Attorneys representing Pagee said there is a Winnipeg residency guaranteed for her through the Elizabeth Fry Society if she is released.
The judge confirmed that the report would be completed. Pagee will remain in custody pending and the matter will return to provincial court on December 2 at 9:30 a.m.
