Uncle faces murder charge after 3-year old found dead

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Hugh Richard Chalifoux, 22, of the Swan River Reserve pleaded not guilty on July 15 to a charge of murder. He was charged in connection with the death of three-year-old Nathan Robert McCue of Kinuso.

The child was the son of Chalifoux's wife's sister. Chalifoux was babysitting the boy at the time the alleged assault occurred. An autopsy performed on July 9 by Dr. John Drowling indicated the child had suffered from a blow to the skull.

According to Constable Hache of the Kinuso RCMP, Chalifoux was born and raised in Kinuso, 240 km. north of Edmonton. Nathan McCue and his family also lived in Kinuso. Hache would not say whether or not alcohol was involved in the incident.

A preliminary hearing was ordered for October 5. Chalifoux will remain in the Edmonton Remand Centre until then unless he receives bail. His lawyer, Alex Pringle of Edmonton, has not requested a bail hearing.