Jury trial commences for La Ronge area murder case

One of the first police officers on scene was the Crown’s first witness and he testified upon locating Ballantyne in the bathtub, he began checking for vital signs. There was blood going down the drain and on Ballantyne’s face.

“I couldn’t really tell where it was coming from,” the officer said.

According to Wilfred Ballantyne’s obituary, he had three daughters and multiple siblings. (Image Credit: Arbor Memorial.)

Upon not finding a pulse and with the help of another officer, the officer testified they moved Ballantyne to the living room where there was more room to perform CPR.

“We tried to carry him out as fast as we could.”

EMS had arrived around the same time and the officer then backed off.

In addition to the stab wounds, the officer said Ballantyne also had injuries to his left arm and head.

In a trash bin located in the bathroom, the officer said he located a large kitchen knife.

Mary Bird and another man were found in a bedroom and detained.

One month has been set aside for the trial and the Crown’s long list of witnesses include police officers involved in the investigation as well as the man found with the accused.

In the courtroom were members of both Bird’s family, as well as family members of Ballantyne.

nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @nigelmaxwell

by Nigel Maxwell

Jury trial commences for La Ronge area murder case

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