Sweetgrass and CFWE news briefs - Jan. 5, 2016

Father refuses to testify further in fatality inquiry into sons’ deaths

January 4, 2016. Jason Cardinal, who killed his two young sons in December 2010, was removed from an Edmonton courtroom Monday afternoon when he refused to further answer questions at a fatality inquiry about their death. Cardinal was testifying about his involvement with the child welfare system during the time Caleb, 6, and Gabriel, 3, were removed from his care. The boys were found dead in an Edmonton home on Dec. 20, 2010, 10 hours after their mother and a family support worker went to pick them up following an unsupervised weekend visit with Cardinal. Cardinal pleaded guilty in 2012 to two counts of first-degree murder. In February 2010, Child and Family Services apprehended the boys based on a number of incidences involving Cardinal, who became the boys’ main parent in late 2008. Initially he was allowed supervised visits with the boys, which turned into unsupervised weekend visits by late 2010. Even after a doctor’s report diagnosed Cardinal with various conditions including generalised anxiety disorder and sociopathic tendencies, his unsupervised access to the boys remained. The boys’ mother Andrea Badger testified that she felt Child and Family Services were not open with her and did not listen to her concerns. She said CFS should have taken Cardinal’s mental state into consideration. In 2013, Badger began legal action to sue the province over her sons’ deaths, claiming CFS failed to protect them. The fatality inquiry, tasked with preventing similar deaths, is scheduled to go all week.

Stabbing incident on O’Chiese results in injuries, arrests

January 4, 2016. Two people are in custody following a stabbing incident on the O’Chiese First Nation that left three people injured. Rocky Mountain House RCMP and emergency medical services were called to a residence on the First Nation shortly after 2 a.m. Jan. 4. Two 21-year-old males and an 18-year-old male were stabbed during an altercation. Two males were transported to hospital with non-life threatening injuries and one was released at the scene. Two males, 23 and 16 years of age, both of O’Chiese First Nation, were taken into custody.

Six charged so far in rash of break, enters, thefts from vehicles

January 4, 2016. Six people have been charged following a string of break and enters, and thefts of vehicles from the Stony Plain, Spruce Grove, and rural area in December. As a result of a lengthy investigation, police have arrested and charged six people to date in connection to the rash of incidences. Taron Rabbit (29), Kenny Rain  (26), Tyrell House (19), Nelson Saulteaux (32), Ellie Mae House (29), and Thomas Rain (19), all of the Paul First Nation, are facing various charges including (but not limited to) possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000, flight from police, breaking and entering, and mischief. More charges are pending against other suspects, also from the Paul First Nation. Several of the vehicles have been recovered. Police are still investigating.