Winnipeg man pleads guilty to killing four women, will not face criminal charges – Brandon Sun

WINNIPEG – A man has admitted in court to killing four women in Winnipeg, but his lawyers are asking that he not be charged because of his mental illness.

Crown Jury Chairman Glenn Joyal said on Monday that the question of Jeremy Skibicki's mental capacity and intent will now be the focus of the trial.

The Crown agreed that the trial, which was supposed to be by jury, would be tried by a judge alone because of the complexity of the defense.

Prosecutor Christian Vanderhooft said: “There are some difficulties in concluding this matter before a jury.”

The trial will begin on Wednesday.

Skibicki, 37, has pleaded not guilty to four counts of first-degree murder.

The partial remains of Rebecca Contois were found in 2022 in a dumpster and a municipal landfill. Police believe the remains of Morgan Harris and Marcedes Mayran are at another, privately owned landfill outside the city.

The location of the unidentified woman was named Buffalo Woman by local community leaders.

Protests took place across the country after police said they would not search the Prairie Green landfill for Harris and Myran, but last month the federal and Manitoba governments committed $40 million to the search.

This Canadian Press report was first published on May 6, 2024.