THUNDER BAY - A judge will determine if there is enough evidence to commit a man and woman to trial for their alleged role in the 2018 death of 28-year-old Nicholas Wendal Baxter.
A preliminary hearing for Christopher Achneepineskum, 45, and Rachel Moonias, 36, opened in a Thunder Bay courtroom on Wednesday.
Achneepineskum was first charged with first-degree murder from an incident that took place at motel on North Cumberland Street on Feb. 5, 2018.
Police were called to the motel just after 2:30 p.m. and located Baxter. He was transported to the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre where he was pronounced dead.
Achneepineskum was arrested and charged with first-degree murder. Moonias was also arrested and originally charged with accessory after the fact to murder, but Crown attorney, Rob Kozak, indicated to the presiding judge, Justice Mackinnon, that the Crown will be proceeding on a charge of manslaughter against Moonias.
The preliminary hearing is scheduled for five days, with three days this week and continuing again in early March. The crown expects to call 17 witnesses.
Achneepineskum and Moonias remain in custody and were present in court with attorneys Kate Brindley and David Bruzzese respectively.
There is a publication ban on all evidence presented during the preliminary hearing.
