Bird murder trial concludes with guilty verdict to manslaughter

The cause of death was a stab wound that penetrated his heart. Ballantyne also had dozens of injuries and cuts all over his head and body.

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

As per testimony heard during the nearly two week trial, Bird and Ballantyne were at the home where Bird lived and were drinking and smoking meth.

Bird allegedly became angry with Ballantyne after he allegedly tried to rape her and according to her testimony, she blacked out.

Ballantyne was later found lying face down and naked in the bath tub. There was blood coming from his head and cold water running from the faucet.

Bird and another man were found by police lying together on a bed that had no sheets and they were both arrested.

Bed sheets were later found in the dryer, and some of Bird’s clothes were found in the bathroom. They all contained blood stains.

A number of knives were also recovered by police, as well as a hammer and a broken frying pan. They also contained blood stains and the DNA was matched to both Bird and Ballantyne.

While in the holding cell at the RCMP detachment, Bird was overheard by officers saying “I killed that [expletive].”

Over the course of five hours, she was questioned by police and said the devil had possessed her and she sent [Ballantyne] to hell. While reiterating Ballantyne had tried to rape her, she could not provide specific details of the assault.

A rape kit was performed at a local hospital but the results were inconclusive.

Typically the range of sentencing for a manslaughter conviction is four to 14 years.

nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @nigelmaxwell

by Nigel Maxwell

Bird murder trial concludes with guilty verdict to manslaughter

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