THUNDER BAY -- The committal of a man to stand trial for second-degree murder will stand after an application to quash the initial ruling was dismissed.
Earlier this month, the lawyer representing Jeffrey Morris Kakegamic challenged the decision made by Justice Joyce Pelletier last summer to stand trial on the murder charge after a preliminary hearing was held in provincial court.
Kakegamic is accused of killing 48-year-old Martin Fabian Achneepineskum in December 2012 at a McIntyre Street residence.
Pelletier ruled there was enough evidence for a jury to reasonably infer guilt, but defence counsel Michael Hargadon argued evidence presented during the preliminary hearing did not support a murder charge, but did merit a charge of manslaughter.
On Tuesday in Superior Court, Justice Helen Pierce said Pelletier did not exceed her jurisdiction in making the ruling and dismissed the application.
A publication ban on all evidence introduced during the preliminary hearing still stands.
At the time of the incident in 2012, police said the two were known to each other and that alcohol was a factor.
None of the charges have been proven in court.
Kakegamic will return to court on April 27.
