Just over a year since Brandy Vittrekwa’s body was found on a walking trail in Whitehorse, a teenaged boy has pleaded guilty to manslaughter in her death.
The 15-year-old made a brief appearance in court Thursday afternoon to enter the plea.
He was originally charged with second-degree murder. Canada’s Youth Criminal Justice Act prevents the boy from being named because of his age.
No details about the crime were made public in court. That will be part of a sentencing hearing sometime in the new year. Lawyers will be back in January to set a date for that hearing.
Seventeen-year-old Vittrekwa’s body was discovered on Dec. 8, 2014 in Whitehorse’s McIntyre subdivision.
The teenaged suspect was taken into police custody days later.
Hundreds of Yukoners attended a memorial service for Vittrekwa, a girl who was remembered as a caring and charismatic teenager with a big smile.
Vittrekwa was Teetl’it Gwitch’in from Fort McPherson, N.W.T., and also lived for periods of time in Inuvik, Old Crow and Whitehorse.
Vittrekwa was one of two people killed in the McIntyre community in 2014. The death of Allan Waugh is still unsolved.
On May 30 police were called to Waugh’s home on McCrimmon Crescent, where the 69-year-old was found dead.
Police have said they believe foul play was involved.
Waugh’s family has worked to keep his name in the spotlight. They spoke out on the anniversary of his death this year asking anyone with information to come forward.
Contact Ashley Joannou at
ashleyj@yukon-news.com