Latest News

Winnipeg Free Press - ONLINE EDITION

Murder trial underway in random killing

By: Mike McIntyre

Posted: 05/31/2010 5:10 PM

A murder trial is underway for a youth who allegedly participated in the random killing of a Winnipeg woman.

The accused — who can’t be named because he was 15 at the time of the October 2006 slaying — has pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder. Crown attorney Ami Kotler told jurors Monday the evidence will show he was an equal participant in the crime which shocked even veteran police officers.

Audrey Cooper, 34, suffered 64 separate injuries in the unprovoked attack, including seven broken ribs, a lacerated liver, swelling that shut both of her eyes and bleeding on the brain. She was stripped naked and left to die.

"She was beaten from the top of her head to the bottom of her toes," Kotler said in his opening statement.

Police arrested four suspects — the boy, a 12-year-old girl and two 14-year-old girls. The youngest girl pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of manslaughter and was given the maximum sentence of two years custody and one year of community superupervision. She will be called as a witness against the young man. The two other girls pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and were given the maximum youth sentence of four years years of custody and three years of community supervision.

www.mikeoncrime.com

(You must be logged in to post your reaction)