Wapass Offered To Take Blame For Death: Witness

Wapass Offered To Take Blame For Death: Witness

Friday, January 15, 2010 at 14:31

 

 

A Thunderchild First Nation man offered to take the blame when a friend was killed, a Battleford court heard yesterday.

 

Justin Wapass provided that testimony in the trial of his cousin, Brett Austin Wapass.

 

Brett Wapass is charged with second-degree murder in the death of Tristan Paddy.

 

Paddy died during a house party on the Thunderchild reserve on April 2, 2008, after being accused of stealing a bottle of liquor.

 

A number of witnesses have testified that 20-year-old Elcee Jimmy beat up Paddy.

 

Jimmy is serving a six-year jail sentence after pleading guilty to manslaughter in June 2008.

 

Justin Wapass said after the fight was over, Paddy’s pulse was checked, but he didn’t have one, so they knew he was dead.

 

He testified that’s when Brett Wapass said he’d take the blame for Paddy’s death.