A Winnipeg man, Jeremy Skibicki, is making a plea for a trial by judge alone instead of the scheduled jury trial. Skibicki is accused of the brutal murder of four Indigenous women, Marcedes Myran, Morgan Harris, Rebecca Contois, and an unidentified woman known as Mashkode Bizhiki'ikwe. Skibicki pleaded not guilty to four counts of first-degree murder on the first day of pretrial motions.

The courtroom was filled with family members of the victims and their supporters, creating a highly emotional atmosphere. Skibicki's trial was initially scheduled for a jury trial due to the seriousness of the charges, but he argues that he should have the right to a trial by judge alone. However, the Crown has not granted its consent for this change. Crown attorney Chris Vanderhooft asserts that there is significant public interest in the case and believes it should be decided by a jury. On the other hand, Skibicki's defense lawyer, Alyssa Munce, argues that the requirement for Crown consent for a judge-only trial is arbitrary and unconstitutional.

The defense maintains that an accused individual should have the right to choose their preferred type of trial, regardless of the charges. Defense lawyer Leonard Tailleur points out that only a few offenses in the Criminal Code require Crown consent for a trial without a jury. Charles Murray of Manitoba Justice's constitutional law branch, speaking on behalf of the Crown, argues that there is no constitutional right to a trial by judge alone.

The decision on this matter could have wider implications for similar cases. Defense lawyer Chris Gamby suggests that in high-profile cases where there may be concerns about the jury pool being tainted or the accused being influenced by public opinion, a defense lawyer may push for a trial by judge alone. The courtroom proceedings on the first day of pretrial motions incorporated several Indigenous traditions. Attendees were given tobacco wrapped in red cloth, and many of them wore ribbon skirts or shirts featuring the faces of the victims. Smudging was performed to purify the space, and colored ties symbolizing the four directions adorned the walls.

A red dress with yellow ribbons and a buffalo headdress were also placed in the courtroom, representing the unidentified victim, Mashkode Bizhiki'ikwe. The pretrial motions will continue to determine the admissibility of Skibicki's police statement. Details of the proceedings and the trial moving forward will be subject to a publication ban. Skibicki's trial is scheduled to begin at the end of April. Support is available for those affected by this case through Ka Ni Kanichihk's Medicine Bear Counselling, Support, and Elder Services.