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Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION

Three held after man found dead

Discovered near burning car on Long Plain First Nation

By: Sarah Petz

Posted: 01/4/2013 1:00 AM

THREE men are in custody after a man was found dead Wednesday evening at Long Plain First Nation.

Long Plain Chief David Meeches said he's heard reports the victim was found with severe trauma to the head.

The incident was originally reported to Meeches as a potential traffic accident at about 9 p.m. Wednesday night, he said. A man's body was found beside a burning car.

Police from the RCMP detachment in Portage la Prairie, along with investigators from Winnipeg, Brandon and Dauphin converged on the First Nation, which is just southwest of Portage.

Though some officers have left, police continue to have a "significant presence" throughout the community, Meeches said.

Three male suspects, aged 20, 21 and 47 are in police custody. They are believed to be from Long Plain.

Meeches said he doesn't believe the victim was a resident of Long Plain.

"I don't know exactly what was found near there, but those are the reports I've been hearing," he said.

"I think with anything of this nature, there is some uncertainty with what's happening. I think my preference is to allow the RCMP to do their job and to investigate and make a clear determination from the individuals that were there exactly what happened," he said.

sarah.petz@freepress.mb.ca

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition January 4, 2013 A6