Camp Morgan Firekeeper criticizes defence's approach in Skibicki trial in Winnipeg

Posted May 6, 2024 5:44 pm.

Last Updated May 7, 2024 9:10 am.

On Monday, Jeremy Skibicki admitted in court to the act of killing an unknown woman police are still trying to identify, known as Buffalo Woman, Morgan Beatrice Harris, 39, Marcedes Myran, 26, and Rebecca Contois, 24, with police saying the women were killed between March and May of 2022.

"The fact that we've had to be out here just to get this long to get this far — it's been a multi-faceted struffle for us. At least that's a positive for the families. It's just one step closer to that closure that they so desperately need," said Ben Gavel, a Firekeeper at Camp Morgan. 

His legal counsel is now pushing ahead with a not-criminally responsible defence, but for Gavel, he's not accepting the arguments as outlined in court. 

"It feels like they're just throwing hail-Mary to get away with anything they can possibly get away with. In the end, he took the lives of four Indigenous women." 

Gavel says these women and their families have been greatly disrespected by Skibicki, but also the local police service and the previous provincial government, stressing while the recent admission is welcome, calls to bring the bodies of these women home will continue to grow until they're properly laid to rest. 

"We're still here and we're not going anywhere until justice is served for them and they're brought home."