An Onion Lake man charged in connection to a hit and run death on Onion Lake Cree Nation had another court appearance scheduled but the matter was adjourned again.
Danny Boy Thunder Makoksis, 31, was scheduled to appear in Onion Lake Circuit Court July 15 to elect how he wants to be tried. He was also scheduled to appear in Onion Lake Circuit Court on April 1.
The Onion Lake Circuit Court remains closed due to COVID-19.
Makoksis was arrested in March after a lengthy police investigation by Onion Lake RCMP, North Battleford Provincial General Investigation Section, Major Crimes North and North Battleford Forensic Investigation Section. Police said the investigation was 鈥渃omplex鈥� but didn鈥檛 say what led them to charge Makoksis. He is charged with failing to remain at the scene of a collision.
Shane Opissinow, 31, was found dead in a slough near the Nine Mile Road about one kilometre south of the Chief Taylor Road intersection in Onion Lake on May 14, 2018.听 Police found him submerged in a slough just off the west side of the road.听
Onion Lake Cree Nation is about 30 kilometres north of Lloydminster and borders Alberta and Saskatchewan.听
All 13 permanent courthouses in Saskatchewan remained open during the COVID-19 pandemic but access continues to be restricted to only those necessary for the proceedings including counsel, litigants, accused, witnesses, support workers, immediate family and support persons, as well as members of the media.
The pandemic, however, has caused countless court delays and the听Saskatchewan Trial Lawyers Association (STLA) expressed concern over a potential backlog of cases. Christine Hansen-Chad, a Partner at OWZW Lawyers and president of the STLA, said the backlog was a concern.
Cases must be heard within 18 months of someone being charged or they could be thrown out of court due to a 2016 Supreme Court ruling that stipulates provincial cases must be heard within an 18-month time frame. The ruling is called Jordan鈥檚 Decision.
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