THUNDER BAY - A man and a woman charged in connection the city’s first homicide of 2018 have been released from custody after the Crown withdraws all charges.
A preliminary hearing for Christopher Achneepineskum and Rachel Moonias opened on Feb. 13 and concluded on March 7.
Achneepineskum, 45, was facing a charge of first-degree murder in connection to the death of 28-year-old Nicholas Wendal Baxter, while Moonias, 36, who was first charged with accessory after the fact, had the charge upgraded to manslaughter at the onset of the preliminary hearing.
Police were called to a North Cumberland Street motel just after 2:30 p.m. on Feb. 5, 2018. Baxter was located inside a room and was transported to the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre where he was pronounced dead.
At the conclusion of the preliminary hearing, which included testimony from 17 witnesses, Crown prosecutor, Rob Kozak, said there was not enough evidence to commit either Achneepineskum or Moonias to trial and the charges were withdrawn.
Achneepineskum was represented by attorney Kate Brindley while Moonias was represented by attorney David Bruzzese. Both were released from custody on March 7.
