Accused murderer was out on bail
Woman was charged in December with stabbing man she is now accused of killing in second attack
John McFadden
Northern News Services
Friday, June 12, 2015
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
The woman accused of killing her common-law partner Monday night in Ndilo was out on bail at the time of his death, having been charged with stabbing the man in an earlier incident in December.
Archie Paulette, left, with his niece Kerry Giroux in a photo taken earlier this spring. Paulette was the victim of a homicide Monday night at his home in Ndilo. Giroux said she loved her uncle and would always check in on him because of the lifestyle he led. - photo courtesy of Kerry Giroux |
Beverly Ann Villeneuve, 46, is now charged with second degree murder in the death of Archie Paulette, 68. RCMP have yet to officially release the victim's name but it is listed on court documents. Police have not said anything about how Paulette was killed or whether a murder weapon has been recovered.
Villeneuve was previously charged with assault with a weapon and possession of a dangerous weapon after Paulette was stabbed on Dec. 11 of last year. According to court documents, this incident occurred at a home at 122 Sikyea Tili, the same residence where Paulette was found mortally wounded on Monday night. Among Villeneuve's bail conditions was that she have no contact with Paulette.
It is believed she had been staying at the Centre for Northern Families in the time leading up to her arrest this week.
Villeneuve appeared in court on Wednesday morning. Her head remained bowed as she sat in the prisoner's dock throughout the proceedings. Her lawyer Tracy Bock told the court Villeneuve was waiving her right to a bail hearing. She had been kept in RCMP holding cells for the previous two nights.
"It's important that she goes to a proper facility," Bock said.
It was not yet clear whether she had been moved to the female correctional centre in Fort Smith at press time.
Paulette's next door neighbour Lawrence Beaulieu said he wasn't shocked to hear what had happened.
"My brother first came and told me what had happened," he said.
"I didn't hear anything that night. There was no noise. But they were boiling for a long time when they drank."
Beaulieu said it is obvious the court order against Villeneuve did little to keep them apart.
He said the onus should be on the community to do something for troubled couples like Paulette and Villeneuve to prevent further tragedy from occurring.
"There should be a lot of counselling where people could go but there's nothing at all right now," said Beaulieu.
Paulette's niece Kerry Giroux said she is very glad she took a photo of him the last time they were together.
"I was close with my uncle and I loved him very much, very dearly" she said.
"I would always make a point of checking in on him because of the life that he lived."
A memorial service for Paulette will be held on June 16 at 1 p.m. at the St. Patrick Roman Catholic Church.
Villeneuve is scheduled to be in court the same day to answer the charges laid in December.
