A publication ban that previously prevented the media from reporting on details surrounding Breanna MenachoSA国际影视传媒檚 death was lifted Thursday following an appeal from the CBC.
Natalie Pressman/NNSL photo
On Dec. 7, Lisa Brule and Jordan Nande pleaded guilty to acting as accessories after the fact to Breanna MenachoSA国际影视传媒檚 killing. The two were sentenced to 10 months in custody, for their involvement in helping the principle accused, Devon Larabie, dodge the police.
No charges against Larabie have been proven in court.
Crown prosecutor Blair MacPherson argued that the agreed statement of facts, if published, would prejudice a jury and interfere with LarabieSA国际影视传媒檚 right to a fair trial. He argued the publication ban would only be temporary until after a jury had been selected.
SA国际影视传媒淲ith respect to the contents of the agreed statement of facts, the details provided are graphic and brutal. As such, potential jurors who read or listen to them will surely remember them,SA国际影视传媒� MacPherson said.
He argued that Yellowknife is a small city with a small population and that publishing the facts of the case would diminish an already limited pool of potential jurors.
To impose a publication ban, the Crown must prove the ban is necessary to prevent SA国际影视传媒渟erious risk to the proper administration of justice.SA国际影视传媒�
In a written judgement Thursday, Justice Karan Shaner said there's insufficient evidence to demonstrate that the SA国际影视传媒減ublication ban is necessary to prevent serious risk to trial fairness.SA国际影视传媒� Though she agreed the details are SA国际影视传媒渄isturbing, to say the least.SA国际影视传媒�
The importance of an open court, she wrote, SA国际影视传媒渃annot be underestimated.SA国际影视传媒�
In a free and democratic society, SA国际影视传媒渋t is a key element holding the administration of justice accountable.SA国际影视传媒�
Agreed statement of facts
The following contains graphic details that some readers may find disturbing.
During Brule and NandeSA国际影视传媒檚 sentencing on Dec. 9, the court heard that on the night of May 5, 2020, the two accessories, along with three others, were present at the Lanky Court apartment where Menacho died. Larabie is accused of striking Menacho repeatedly with a hatchet.
Larabie then SA国际影视传媒渃ommandedSA国际影视传媒� the five witnesses to remain in the residence. Nande and Brule complied, three others fled.
Reading from the agreed statement of facts, MacPherson told the court that Larabie placed MenachoSA国际影视传媒檚 body in a cube freezer and told Nande and Brule to remove their clothes and take a shower, which they did.
The two then helped clean the apartment.
Brule, who was dating and living with Larabie at the time, suggested using bleach to cover the evidence.
photo courtesy of
Larabie allegedly gave the hatchet to Nande with the understanding that he would dispose of the weapon.
Nande and Brule left the apartment for the night. There was a meeting the next day to discuss how to dispose of the body. They decided they would transport the cube freezer, the couch where the attack took place and any other bloodied items out of town and then burn them.
Brule retrieved a dolly to transport the freezer and Nande called a friend with a pickup truck to help them drive the evidence out of town.
The friend with the truck noted that the three had been acting strange. When he was helping them move the couch from the Lanky Court residence into his vehicle, he noticed blood. The court heard that he then snuck away to report his observations to the , who were already looking for Menacho at this time.
The descended onto the apartment and found the body in the freezer. Larabie, Nande and Brule were apprehended.
While MacPherson acknowledged that Nande and Brule SA国际影视传媒渉ad a significant role in attempting to clean the murder scene,SA国际影视传媒� and he said Larabie SA国际影视传媒渆xerted power over the accessoriesSA国际影视传媒� to solicit their assistance.
Though some fled, Larabie SA国际影视传媒渃ommandedSA国际影视传媒� that the witnesses stay and SA国际影视传媒渇orced themSA国际影视传媒� to remove their clothing and have a shower, MacPherson said. He later allegedly told Nande he would kill him if he informed the police.
Larabie is set to appear in court for a preliminary inquiry on June 22, 2021.
The judge will then decide if there is enough evidence to proceed to trial.
