THUNDER BAY - A man charged in connection to the 2018 death of Braiden Jacob will stand trial on the charge of manslaughter early next year.
Jonathan Yellowhead of Eabametoong First Nation was first arrested on Dec. 14, 2018 and charged with second-degree murder.
Braiden Jacob, 17, from Webequie First Nation was in Thunder Bay in December 2018 to seek counselling services. He was first reported missing on Dec. 6 and his body was found in the Chapples Park area on Dec. 9.
The Thunder Bay Police Service ruled his death a homicide following a post mortem examination in Toronto.
Yellowhead was initially charged with second-degree murder, but following a preliminary hearing a judge determined there was not enough evidence to proceed on that charge and the trial will proceed on the charge of manslaughter.
Neil McCartney, defense counsel for Yellowhead, indicated a pre-trial application will be heard on Oct. 13 for the manslaughter charge and the trial is expected to take place in January 2022.
Yellowhead will also be entering a plea later this month on an aggravated assault charge stemming from an incident at the Thunder Bay District Jail in September 2019 that resulted in another inmate suffering serious injuries.
The incident involved several other inmates, including 26-year-old Darren Oombash, who was sentenced to two years after pleading guilty to aggravated assault last December.
Lennox Oren Atlookan was sentenced to three-years in custody last July and Brolin Ian Donald Ooshag was sentenced last June to 540 days in connection to the assault at the District Jail.
Yellowhead is expected to enter a guilty plea for the aggravated assault charge on July 27 where a pre-sentence report will be requested, as well as a Gladue report.
The Crown may also seek a dangerous offender designation for Yellowhead at that time.
Yellowhead remains in custody at a facility in southern Ontario.
