Cara Loverock
Northern News Services
Published Friday, July 04, 2008

SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Doris Kendi, 58, made her first court appearance Wednesday for a second degree murder charge in connection with the death of her sister.

Kendi's attorney, Hugh Latimer, did not appear in court with her. Acting as counsel was defence attorney Kelly Payne, who explained that Latimer "is waiting for further disclosure from the Crown."

Judge Brian Bruser scheduled Kendi's next court date for July 8, however she will not be required to appear.

After her short court appearance, Kendi was transported to the women's correctional centre in Fort Smith.

She was taken into police custody on June 27, the same day her sister, Lorraine Bonnetplume, was found dead. Bonnetplume, 52, was unresponsive when found by her husband in a cabin outside Yellowknife along Highway 3 on June 27.

Man to be sentenced for armed robbery

Scott Banks, 28, is scheduled to face sentencing for robbing the Winks Convenience store on May 6, 2008.

He appeared in territorial court Wednesday morning before Judge Brian Bruser, who scheduled him to appear in court again on Friday, July 8 "for possible resolution."

Banks, a Yellowknife resident, turned himself into RCMP on May 12 after the armed robbery at Winks, and after he was identified as a suspect.

Tsiigehtchic man arraigned on murder charge

A Tsiigehtchic man charged with second-degree murder made his first court appearance Wednesday morning.

Michael Douglas Andre-Blake, 28, appeared briefly before Judge Brian Bruser in relation to the stabbing death of Roy Patrick Blake, 25, who was found dead on June 28.

Attorney Kelly Payne appeared as counsel for the accused and requested another court date be set in Yellowknife later this month.

"I received very scant disclosure this morning," said Payne.

Andre-Blake will appear in court again on July 22 to speak to the charge.

Bruser said if a preliminary inquiry is to be held it will have to be in Inuvik, near the community of Tsiigehtchic.

Andre-Blake is facing a charge of second degree murder after Blake, the cousin of the accused, was discovered on the road by a bylaw officer in Tsiigehtchic at roughly 3 a.m. on June 28.