International

Court pronounces Canadian serial killer guilty of killing four women

Published

2 years ago

July 12, 2024

Court pronounces Canadian serial killer guilty of killing four women

Tearful cheers erupted in a packed Canadian courtroom on Thursday as a judge found a serial killer guilty of first-degree murder in the deaths of four indigenous women.

But in the court gallery, Jeremy Contois’ reaction was reserved.

His younger sister, Rebecca, was one of the women killed in the city of Winnipeg, Manitoba two years ago.

“I feel a little sense of relief,” Mr Contois said, but will not get full closure until the killer, Jeremy Skibicki, is formally sentenced.

In his oral verdict, Manitoba Court of King’s Bench Chief Justice Glenn Joyal dismissed the argument by the defence at trial that the accused was not criminally responsible for the murders.

Lawyers for Skibicki, 37, said he was suffering from schizophrenia at the time of the killings.

Prosecutors argued that Skibicki deliberately killed Ms Contois and three other women in 2022 in crimes that were calculated and racially motivated.

Warning: This story contains details readers may find distressing.

The murders and the subsequent weeks-long trial sent shockwaves through Canada’s indigenous community, which has long grappled with cases of violence against their women.

Wearing a grey T-shirt and pants, Skibicki did not react as Judge Joyal read aloud the summary of his judgment.

One of Ms Contois’ family members held up a large photo of Rebecca in his direction as he left the courtroom.

“Why did I lift up her photo? Because we, as First Nations people, are not statistics,” Krista Fox said afterwards.

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“Every single one of us has a name, and a family that misses us dearly.”

Skibicki’s victims are Morgan Harris, 39, Marcedes Myran, 26 and Ms Contois, who was 24. The fourth woman has yet to be identified, and has been given the name Mashkode Bizhiki’ikwe, meaning Buffalo Woman, by indigenous elders.

Throughout the trial, a buffalo head sat on a red cloth on a table near the prosecutors in tribute to the still unidentified victim.

In his verdict, Judge Joyal said the accused failed to demonstrate he was not criminally responsible for the murders, dismissing the testimony of a British psychiatrist, Dr Sohom Das, who said Skibicki was motivated by delusions when he committed the murders.

The judge added that the “mercilessly graphic” facts of the case “are largely uncontested”, given that the accused had admitted to the murders in police interviews and in court prior to the trial.

Skibicki had pleaded not guilty due to a mental disorder.

The 100-person courtroom was packed full with the four women’s families and friends for the verdict.

Judge Joyal said the case has had an “undeniable and profound impact on the entire Manitoba community, indigenous and non-indigenous”.

With Skibicki facing life behind bars, the focus is now shifting to finding the remains of two of his victims, Ms Myran and Ms Harris, which are believed to be in a Winnipeg landfill.

A formal search has been set for this autumn, after months of pressure from their families.

‘Intentional and purposeful’ murders

According to court documents, Skibicki killed the women between March and May of 2022, with Ms Contois believed to be the final victim.

He met at least two at local homeless shelters in Winnipeg, a city of 820,000 in the prairie province.

Judge Joyal agreed with prosecutors that he deliberately targeted and exploited “vulnerable” women.

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Over the course of the trial, the court heard that Skibicki had assaulted the women, strangled or drowned them and then committed sex acts on them before dismembering their bodies and disposing of them in garbage bins.

The killings went undetected for months, until a man looking for scrap metal in a bin outside Skibicki’s apartment found partial human remains in May 2022 and called police.

“She’s obviously been murdered,” the man said in the 911 call, which was played in court.

Police were able to identify the remains as those of Ms Contois.

More of her remains were discovered at a city-run landfill the following month.

In police interviews shortly after his arrest, Skibicki surprised officers by admitting to killing Ms Contois as well as three others.

At that point, police had no knowledge of the other deaths.

Speaking outside court, Ms Fox said she believes that it was only because Ms Contois’ remains were found that the other families were able to get justice.

Skibicki’s lawyers tried to argue that he was not aware of the severity of his actions due to delusions driven by schizophrenia. They argued he was hearing voices that told him to commit the crimes as part of a mission from god.

Prosecutors argued that Skibicki was fully aware of his actions, saying they were “intentional, purposeful and racially motivated”.

They demonstrated this through a mix of DNA forensic evidence, surveillance footage showing Skibicki with the women in their final days, as well as testimony from his ex-wife, who detailed a history of physical abuse.

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Had Skibicki been found not criminally responsible for the four murders, it would have been a relative rarity in Canadian law.

According to data from Canada’s statistics agency and reported by the Globe and Mail newspaper, between 2000 and 2022, of 8,883,749 criminal cases prosecuted across the country, only 5,178 – or 0.06% – had such verdicts.

The case unearthed deep wounds for Canada’s indigenous community, which has long grappled with a high number of cases of their women going missing or being murdered.

According to an investigation by the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network, Winnipeg – a city near numerous indigenous communities – had the highest number of missing and murdered indigenous women in Canada between 2018 and 2022.

Across Canada, indigenous women are 12 times more likely to be murdered or go missing than other women, according to a 2019 inquiry.

Some indigenous women in the city remain missing, sparking fears from family members that Skibicki had more victims.

The Crown, however, said they do not believe he murdered more women.

Even with the relief of a guilty verdict, Mr Contois, Rebecca’s brother, said he still wonders why his sister – who is also a mother to a young daughter – was so brutally murdered.

“Why did he have to do it?” he said. “I wish I knew that.”

International

Hawk Fire in US Rages On, Burns 10,500 Acres in Nevada, Forces Mass Evacuations

Published

1 day ago

August 23, 2026

Trends Admin

Hawk Fire in US Rages On, Burns 10,500 Acres in Nevada, Forces Mass Evacuations

A fast-moving wildfire in the western United States has exploded to over 10,500 acres near Reno, Nevada, forcing thousands to flee their homes as firefighters battle the blaze with zero containment.

RENO, Nevada, US – The Hawk Fire, a rapidly growing wildfire in the western United States, has expanded to cover more than 10,500 acres in Nevada as of late Saturday evening, with firefighters reporting zero containment and challenging conditions driven by gusty winds, low humidity, and dry vegetation. The blaze ignited around 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, August 22, 2026, off the Hawk Meadow Trail near the Somersett community in the foothills of northwest Reno. By mid-afternoon, the fire had grown to approximately 2,500 to 3,000 acres. By 8:30 p.m. Saturday, mapping platform Perimeter Map reported the fire had expanded to at least 10,523 acres.

Approximately 400 personnel from local, state, and federal agencies are currently battling the blaze in the US state of Nevada, with ground crews and air resources deployed to contain the fire. The Nevada National Guard is supporting aerial firefighting operations, deploying one CH-47 Chinook and one UH-60 Black Hawk aircrew to assist with firefighting efforts. An additional 60 Nevada National Guard Response Force personnel have been called in to support local law enforcement in protecting evacuated neighbourhoods. Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District Chief Richard Edwards described the situation as “a very dynamic incident” driven by the wind, noting that “wind-driven fires move very rapidly into our residential areas, creating a lot of challenges for our firefighters to save homes and protect lives.”

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Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo has declared a state of emergency in Washoe County as the Hawk Fire continues its rapid spread across the US state. “I have declared a state of emergency in Washoe County as we respond to the Hawk Fire, which is spreading quickly and threatening homes and structures,” Lombardo said. “Please heed all warnings from local officials, evacuate immediately if you are ordered to do so, and do not put yourself or first responders at risk.” Under the declaration, all state agencies are directed to work through the Nevada Emergency Operations Center to supplement local response efforts. “This is an active and rapidly evolving situation, and I urge everyone in the affected areas to remain vigilant and follow the direction of local officials,” Lombardo continued. “The state is fully engaged, and we are working alongside local authorities and first responders to deploy every available resource to protect lives, safeguard communities, and keep Nevadans out of harm’s way.” Reno Mayor Hillary Schieve confirmed that structures have already been burned in the fire and urged residents to prioritise their safety. “Structures have already been burned in this fire and your life is more important than a building,” Schieve said in a message posted by the City of Reno on X.

The Washoe County Sheriff’s Office has issued mandatory “Go Now” evacuation orders for several neighbourhoods as the fire continues to spread. Evacuations have expanded southward, affecting the Somersett community, including areas north of Somersett Parkway to Robb Drive, as well as neighborhoods in northwest Reno. Communities from Raleigh Heights to Red Rock on the west side of U.S. Highway 395 have been instructed to evacuate immediately. U.S. Highway 395 in Washoe County has been closed in both directions between Parr Boulevard and Red Rock Road due to the fire’s proximity. Rancho San Rafael Park has also been closed as the fire continues to spread. The fire has also prompted evacuation warnings in Sierra County, California, as authorities continue to monitor its movement toward the state line between Nevada and California.

An evacuation centre has been established at the Reno-Sparks Convention Center, located at 4590 South Virginia Street, Reno. The Evelyn Mount Northeast Community Center, which initially served as an evacuation site, quickly reached maximum capacity, prompting the establishment of the secondary shelter at the convention center. Small animals can be taken to Washoe County Regional Animal Services on Longley Lane, while no evacuation centre is currently available for large animals.

The blaze has severely disrupted regional infrastructure, causing widespread power outages that impacted tens of thousands of utility customers across the US state. Emergency de-energization of transmission lines by NV Energy cut electricity to more than 37,000 customers in the Truckee and North Lake Tahoe region. The rapid advancement of the fire also forced the temporary closure of the ER at North Valleys, where healthcare workers scrambled to safely transfer patients to alternative regional facilities.

Significant resources have been mobilised to fight the fire, including air tankers and helicopters. Requests for Cal Fire support have been initiated, and “substantial resources” have been diverted from the nearly-contained Bug Fire to assist with the Hawk Fire. The Bug Fire, located just north of the Hawk Fire, was 94% contained as of Friday, while the nearby Stallion Fire was 98% contained as of Friday. Weather conditions remain challenging, with a Red Flag Warning extending across northern Washoe County toward the California and Oregon borders, increasing the risk of rapid fire growth and spot fires.

Hawk Fire in US Rages On, Burns 10,500 Acres in Nevada, Forces Mass Evacuations

International

UK, Australia, Canada Lead 28 Nations in Condemning Israel Over Gaza Aid Killings Probe Closure

Published

3 days ago

August 21, 2026

Trends Admin

UK, Australia, Canada Lead 28 Nations in Condemning Israel Over Gaza Aid Killings Probe Closure

The United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada have condemned Israel’s decision to close a criminal investigation into the 2024 killing of seven World Central Kitchen (WCK) aid workers in Gaza, calling the move “shameful” and “both too little, and too late.” The announcement came on World Humanitarian Day, August 19, 2026, a timing the three governments described as “particularly egregious.”

The Israeli military announced on August 19 that it would not pursue criminal proceedings into the April 1, 2024 strike on the WCK convoy, saying there was no reasonable suspicion of criminal misconduct. The attack killed seven humanitarian workers who were delivering food to civilians in Gaza. The victims included Australian aid worker Zomi Frankcom, three British security personnel, a dual Canadian-US citizen Jacob Flickinger, Polish national Damian Sobol, and Palestinian Saifeddin Issam Ayad Abutaha. The deadly strike occurred despite the convoy having coordinated its route with the Israeli military, and the vehicles were clearly marked with the WCK logo.

In a joint statement issued on August 21, the foreign ministries of the three countries said they had spent more than two years pressing Israel to conduct a swift and thorough investigation into the attack and hold those responsible to account. The governments noted that at the time, the Israel Defense Forces had described the incident as a serious mistake and failure, and that in the more than two years since, they had been pressing for Israel to swiftly and thoroughly consider the case and hold those responsible to account. The statement said the decision to close the case without further explanation was “shameful” and that announcing it on World Humanitarian Day, while the world honoured the courage and sacrifice of humanitarians, was particularly egregious. The governments stressed that the World Central Kitchen attack was not an isolated incident, arguing that the lack of accountability extended to numerous other incidents involving humanitarian workers in Gaza, noting that despite a fragile ceasefire, Gaza remains the deadliest place to deliver aid, with 186 humanitarian workers killed in 2025.

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Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong separately expressed outrage at the decision, stating that the Israeli military’s response fell short of the standards of accountability Australia expected following the killing of Australian aid worker Zomi Frankcom and six other WCK workers. Wong summoned Israel’s ambassador to Australia, Hillel Newman, to express her concerns and later acknowledged that relations between Australia and Israel were at a “difficult time.” She said the government had learned of Israel’s decision moments before it was announced on World Humanitarian Day, which she described as “especially insulting to Zomi’s loved ones, humanitarians and all Australians.” The foreign minister said key questions remained unanswered, including why two further strikes followed the initial attack, each two minutes apart, why the strikes occurred in a humanitarian “fire control” zone, and Israel’s repeated refusals to hand over audio evidence of the attack. Wong stated that Australia did not have confidence in the IDF’s Military Advocate-General’s process given the many unanswered questions.

Frankcom’s family expressed deep disappointment and called on the Australian government to pursue all available legal avenues for an independent and credible investigation. Her brother, Josh Frankcom, said Israel’s decision was “simply not good enough.” The family has been vocal in demanding accountability for Zomi’s death, and they have questioned why the Israeli military has not provided a satisfactory explanation for the attack.

Israeli Ambassador to Australia Hillel Newman defended the military investigation, saying it was thorough and that the findings should not be attacked if they were not suitable to one’s political agenda. He said the IDF conceded serious failures had led soldiers to mistakenly believe a Hamas fighter was travelling with the convoy, but concluded there was no criminal intent. Newman said Israel was open to discussing reparations for Frankcom’s family if a formal request was lodged, but he stopped short of offering a formal apology, saying doing so could have legal ramifications. The IDF’s decision came alongside announcements that it would open criminal investigations into two other high-profile Gaza incidents: the killing of six-year-old Hind Rajab and six family members in January 2024, and the killing of 15 rescue workers in a Rafah convoy in March 2024. The United Nations has accused Israel of failing to provide adequate accountability for civilian deaths in Gaza, and the latest decision is likely to deepen international isolation for Israel.

UK, Australia, Canada Lead 28 Nations in Condemning Israel Over Gaza Aid Killings Probe Closure

International

North Korea Fires 10+ Missiles Hours After Trump Signals Fresh Kim Summit

Published

4 days ago

August 20, 2026

Trends Admin

North Korea Fires 10+ Missiles Hours After Trump Signals Fresh Kim Summit

North Korea launched more than 10 short-range ballistic missiles toward the East Sea on Thursday, just hours after President Donald Trump publicly declared his intention to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un later this year. The provocative test represents a blunt rejection of Trump’s diplomatic overtures and comes despite his recent order to scale back joint US-South Korean military drills. The launch was detected around 5:00 p.m. local time from the Pyongyang area. According to South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff, the missiles traveled approximately 300 kilometers before landing in the sea, with detailed specifications still under analysis by US and South Korean intelligence. This marks the 12th missile test by Pyongyang this year and comes only eight days after the previous launch.

The missile salvo directly follows a series of conciliatory gestures from Washington. On Monday, Trump posted on social media that he had ordered the Pentagon to “substantially reduce” joint military exercises with South Korea, citing what he described as his “very good relationship” with Kim Jong Un. The following day, Trump told reporters that Kim had responded to his “dialogue” offer, though he declined to share specifics. The Ulchi Freedom Shield (UFS) exercises, originally scheduled to run for 11 days, were abruptly shortened to just 5 days following Trump’s directive. The Pentagon said the reduced drills would cause “no degradation to US training objectives.” Reports indicate Trump is privately pushing aides to arrange a meeting with Kim as early as this fall, potentially during an Asia trip scheduled for November 2026 for the APEC summit in Shenzhen.

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Despite these overtures, North Korea responded with defiance. Kim Yo Jong, the powerful sister of Kim Jong Un and a senior Workers’ Party official, issued a statement dismissing the reduction in US-South Korean drills as “not even worth commenting on” and “completely uninteresting.” “Reducing the scale or duration of the exercises does not change their fundamentally provocative and aggressive nature,” Kim Yo Jong said. She emphasized that the joint exercises are “still underway,” calling them “an unmistakable expression of hostility toward North Korea.” As for the communication between the North Korean and American leaders mentioned by President Trump, Kim Yo Jong clearly drew the line by saying she has “absolutely no knowledge of it.” She added, however, that “relations between the two leaders remain excellent,” saying this is “well known to the world and hardly surprising.” Her statement, issued just hours before the missile launch, effectively signaled that Pyongyang would not be swayed by US diplomatic gestures alone.

Analysts view the launch as a calculated act of defiance with multiple strategic objectives. The test occurred just before the shortened UFS exercises were scheduled to conclude, suggesting frustration that the drills were still ongoing despite the reduction. North Korea has previously used similar provocations during joint US-South Korean exercises, viewing them as preparation for invasion. Trump, who held an unprecedented series of summits with Kim in 2018 and 2019, has since referred to North Korea repeatedly as a “nuclear power,” although his administration continues to call for denuclearisation. Trump told reporters on Wednesday that North Korea possesses 57 “very powerful” nuclear weapons, a specific figure he has cited for the first time regarding the North’s nuclear stockpile. South Korean estimates put the country’s nuclear arsenal at between 80 and 120 weapons. Trump’s renewed engagement with Kim has raised concerns among some US allies in Asia and sparked speculation that he may be seeking a diplomatic breakthrough as efforts to resolve the Iran conflict encounter difficulties.

South Korea’s presidential office convened an emergency national security meeting immediately following the launch, condemning the act as a grave violation of UN Security Council resolutions. The office stressed the need to maintain a “thorough readiness posture” and urged Pyongyang to halt such provocations. South Korean, US, and Japanese authorities are sharing intelligence and maintaining heightened readiness, with the South Korean military emphasizing its ability to “overwhelmingly respond to any provocation.” The United States currently maintains approximately 28,500 troops in South Korea, a legacy of the 1950-53 Korean War that ended with an armistice rather than a formal peace agreement. South Korean Defence Minister Ahn Gyu-back said Seoul remained opposed to officially recognising the North as a nuclear-weapon state. Asked whether Washington had “given up” on North Korea’s denuclearisation, Ahn said he did not believe so. President Lee Jae Myung, who has advocated stronger domestic defence capabilities to lessen Seoul’s dependence on Washington, said he would “do his utmost” to support Trump’s peacemaking efforts with the North.