Staff
A Shoal Lake First Nation man pleaded guilty yesterday to second-degree murder in connection with the 2007 death of Ashley Smith of Naicatchewenin First Nation.
Bronson Green appeared before Justice G.P. Smith of the Ontario Superior Court to plead guilty on the charge, and was found guilty by Justice Smith.
Green initially was to face a trial by jury next week, but he had since opted to appear before a Superior Court judge alone.
He will be sentenced on Nov. 25.
The charge of first-degree murder Treaty #3 Police Service initially had laid against Green back in October, 2007 is in the process of being amended to a second-degree charge, and this will be put on the record at the time of sentencing.
The court also will speak to a charge of breaching a recognizance of bail at that time.
Green was charged after Smith’s body was found in the bush near the main community road on Naicatchewenin in the early-morning hours of Saturday, Oct. 27, 2007.
Meanwhile, the trial of a health care aide charged with the assault of a former Rainycrest resident has been adjourned until Monday.
Donna Butera is facing charges of assault, threatening bodily harm, and failure to abide by bail conditions.
The alleged assault occurred March 25, 2008.
The other two charges stem from an incident which allegedly occurred April 8, 2008.
The trial, which just started this week, is being presided over by Justice Thomas McKay and is expected to last several days.
